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	Your View: Parishioners Should Let Priests Know They Appreciate Them By Ann M. Bruno Standard-Times April 29, 2008 http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080429/OPINION/804290310/-1/TOWN1001 In The Standard-Times edition of April 15, there was a picture of a young woman carrying a sign in Washington, D.C., that said, "Catholic priests are predators." This sign was very disturbing to clergy and laity alike. I asked myself, "Is she a survivor of clerical abuse?" Perhaps that is why her sign was so painful. Over the last six years, I have had opportunities to hear victims speak of their clerical abuse. Their unforgettable stories are not pretty. Once you have heard a survivor's story, you can't ever look at the survivors without overwhelming sorrow, abundant love and pure compassion. That is why I wonder what is the story behind that sign? If she were abused by a member of the clergy, would she ever be able to have any regard for any priest? As disturbing as that sign is, remember, this woman might have been victimized twice, once by a priest and the second time when she went to report the abuse to a diocesan prelate. What saddens me, as a Catholic woman, was that her message on the sign painted all Catholic priests with the same brush. Each of us knows that there have been priests worldwide who used their position of power to violate some young boys and girls. We also know that throughout our lives, most of our experiences with our priests have been wonderful ones. I am proud of those priests who act like Jesus, ministering to the poor and the disenfranchised and who stand up and speak for those who are unable to speak for themselves. I would like to salute the priests who give of themselves unselfishly when someone needs comfort and spiritual guidance during and at the end of life. I am grateful for those priests who make the sacraments available to us daily and weekly and who are truly pastoral. I am happy to say that I have been blessed in my lifetime to know some wonderful priests whom I consider friends and to whom I would turn when I needed spiritual direction. The Voice of the Faithful's second goal is to support priests of integrity. I would like each of us to think about our own spiritual experiences with priests. We so often take priests for granted. As much as the laity needs to be nourished by the words from their priests, priests also need to be nourished by their parishioners. Parishioners should consider letting priests know how grateful they are for their efforts. It only takes a few minutes and a few kind words to make people feel appreciated.
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