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	Bishop Fred Henry Takes Issue with Column on Priestly Sex Abuse By Fred Henry, Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary SECN December 5, 2009 http://www.secalgarynews.com/opinion/letters/bishop-fred-henry-takes-issue-with-column-on-priestly-sex-abuse/ CANADA--Unfortunately, after superficial research and slanted musings about the issue of abuse, the editorial claims: "But the Catholic Church is unique in the extent to which pedophilia is a problem within the clergy. And you don't have to probe very far to figure out why"- the answer, of course, is "the priestly vow of chastity". In point of fact, priests take a vow of celibacy. Furthermore, all Christians are called to live the virtue of chastity according to their respective state in life. It is stated that: "It's hard not to conclude that pedophilia is systemic in the structure of the Catholic Church." It is interesting that a special report in the December 7, 2009 Maclean's, in a hardly flattering report, under the title "The Truth About Priests – Decades of scandal and public scorn. Now the surprising facts," acknowledges: "… the vast, vast majority of Catholic priests are not sexual predators. In fact, the scientific research suggests that men who target children are no more pervasive in the priesthood (and perhaps less pervasive) than in any other segment of society. Depending on the study, somewhere between two and four percent of priests have had sexual contact with a minor. Or to put it another way, between 96 and 98 percent have not. "It's part of that myth – the myth of the pedophile priest who can't help himself," says Thomas Plante, a psychology professor at Santa Clara University who has published dozens of studies about sexually abusive priests. "It's really an issue of perception rather than reality. Believe it or not, probably one of the safest places for a kid to be is in a catholic church environment." Furthermore, they also state that according to the most reliable figures, 13 percent of men and up to 40 percent of women say they were sexually abused as children. The huge majority of those crimes occur inside the home – and the culprit is usually a relative, not the local priest. I would suggest that S.E. Calgary News is misguided and erroneous in concluding that "the Catholic Church actively tolerates and supports a pedophile culture". As a pastor and teacher of faith and morals, I also want to express my profound sorrow for any crime of sexual abuse of minors or adults. Parents and young people have, in the past, tended to trust priests as much as or more than anyone else in their lives. When that trust is betrayed, the disillusionment alienates them from the priest and from everything that he represents. The wound inflicted by sexual abuse cuts deeper than a physical wound. The wound caused by abuse is invisible and often rendered almost inaccessible through an unholy alliance whereby victims are convinced that they must protect the abuser by their silence. Wounds such as these damage children to the very core of their being and their fundamental self-identity. For the victims of sexual abuse, the pain and suffering is not, and may never be, over. As a local Church, the Diocese of Calgary is addressing this issue in a variety of ways: 1. A Diocesan Sexual Misconduct Committee has been in place since the early 1990s and we have our own protocols It is congruent with the principles espoused in the document "From Pain to Hope" (cf. Canadian Catholic Bishops website). 2. We are intent upon further refining our protocol with a greater emphasis on transparency, accountability and outreach to victims, their immediate and parish families. 3. The chairperson of the committee is a Registered Social Worker, a lay person, who is not a paid employee of the Diocese. Membership includes a priest, a civil lawyer, a psychologist, a social worker, and community representatives and takes into account gender balance and clinical experience. 4. The contact telephone number for the Sexual Misconduct Committee is posted on our Diocesan Web site along with a secure email address. 5 We have introduced a Model Code of Pastoral Conduct for all priests, deacons, youth ministers and pastoral ministers. 6. If and when an allegation surfaces, we tend to credit it and take immediate action. Whenever the allegation involves a minor, the matter is reported in accordance with the Alberta Child Welfare Act, section 3,1-6. Transparency is the operative stance in dealing with law enforcement officials. 7. If there is substance to the allegation, the priest is placed on administrative leave, sent for a psychological assessment and treatment. Victims are also offered counseling and pastoral support. 8. We have learnt from harsh experience that we cannot put parishioners, particularly children, at risk. There is no greater priority than ensuring the protection of children. A pedophile or an ephebephile cannot be given a pastoral assignment. 9. In view of the phenomenon of abuse, there is a much more extensive vocational screening procedure involved in the selection of candidates for priesthood, including a battery of psychological tests. The program of formation has been revised and individuated. Human Formation Counselors have been added to seminary formation teams. A parallel screening process exists for international priest coming to serve in the diocese. 10. A variety of workshops on sexuality, celibacy, boundary issues and professional responsibilities have been mandated as pre-service and in-service programs. While we have much for which we need to be forgiven, and much to learn, we are making significant progress – unfortunately, your editorial does all of us a disservice.
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