Insights and Outbursts: Still Waiting on Church Accountability

By Eileen Ford
Gloucester Times
January 5, 2012

http://www.gloucestertimes.com/opinion/x1477841068/Insights-and-Outbursts-Still-waiting-on-church-accountability

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." — Edmond Burke

The good weather allowed me to walk a lot last month along Atlantic Road in Gloucester, enjoying the salt air and waves crashing against the rocks.

Instead of exchanging gifts, I made my own cards, contributed to local causes, went to Mass on Christmas morning, and later enjoyed "War Horse," an inspiring story of a young man, the horse he loved and a war that separated them.

In an age where the spirit of the season is overwhelmed by Black Friday sales that begin on Thanksgiving, it's a joy to live on Cape Ann where the gifts of nature are available all year long.

News reports, however, were far from joyful, with repeated revelations of the sexual abuse of children by coaches at Penn State and Syracuse universities.

On Dec. 10, while listening to "Only a Game" on NPR, I heard a proud Syracuse graduate say that he would remember the good in both institutions, but that it was even more important "never to forget what happened there."

I, too, will always be grateful for the good I found in the Catholic church, including many wonderful nuns and priests I've known throughout my life — but I cannot forget the darker side of a system that protected itself instead of children.

For years, I wrote letters to bishops and to Pope John II, but the only response came from Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, agreeing that the "moral authority" of the church will never be restored until bishops are held accountable for their negligence.

After a peace and joy-filled three days at Eastern Point Retreat House last week, I received a call from Kathy Dwyer, a woman I've known and admired ever since she spoke at a Voice of the Faithful meeting and appeared on my local access TV show five years ago. A survivor of incest, clergy sexual and spiritual abuse, she touched the hearts of many with her story.

Kathy invited me to a "10th Anniversary Celebration" this weekend at the Holiday Inn, Beacon Hill, Boston, sponsored by clergy abuse survivors and advocates: Bishop Accountability, Call to Action, National Survivors Advocates Coalition, Road to Recovery, STTOP, Truth and Recognition and Winchester VOTF.

They come together to celebrate "what survivors and supporters have accomplished in exposing Catholic clergy sex crimes" and later, will join other survivors in front of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.

Among the supporters from BishopAccountability.org will be Anne Barrett Doyle and Terry McKiernan. Terry spoke at our first Voice of the Faithful meeting in the Rose Baker Senior Center in 2002 and, after five years, we donated books filled with newspaper clippings to Anne to be included in the group's database of accused priests and bishops.

Its website is recognized worldwide as the largest independent source of once-secret documents about the church's cover-up of child sexual abuse, and this year, it will launch databases of accused clerics in Ireland, Canada, Mexico and other countries, including a "list of whistle-blower priests and nuns."

Most of the men who covered up the abuse of children in the Boston Archdiocese are still in positions of power and influence today. None were ever held accountable for their negligence, while those who criticized the lack of Vatican support for victims — such as Tom Gumbleton and Australian Bishop Geoffrey Robinson — were ostracized by the church.

Though I'm unable to attend the weekend celebration, I'll be there in spirit, because they are the ones most responsible for any positive changes that have taken place in the church and society as a whole.

Thanks to their courage, adults can no longer abuse children and know that their crimes will always remain a secret.

Eileen Ford is a regular Times columnist and lives in Rockport.