BishopAccountability.org
	Abuse Crisis Has Shown Clerics How Deeply Victims Are Hurt, Bishop Says Georgia Bulletin May 13, 2010 http://www.georgiabulletin.org/world/2010/05/12/US-3/ Bishops in the United States have learned that the injury to victims of priestly sexual abuse "is deeper than nonvictims can imagine" said the chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People. U.S. bishops also learned that Catholics have been hurt by the "moral failings of some priests" and have been hurt and angered "even more by bishops who failed to put children first" when reports of abuse surfaced, said Bishop Blase J. Cupich of Rapid City, S.D. Writing in the May 17 issue of America magazine, Bishop Cupich outlined 12 of the most important lessons he said bishops have learned from the abuse crisis. He said the one of first lessons for the bishops has been what the impact of abuse has been on minors. He wrote that the abuse of children is "crushing, precisely because it comes at a stage in their lives when they are vulnerable, tender with enthusiasm, hopeful for the future and eager for friendships based on trust and loyalty." He said bishops must continue to reach out to victims despite the "justified anger felt by victims toward the church."
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.