Clergy Abuse Activists Mark Decade of Struggle

By Danielle Rivard
Boston Herald
January 9, 2012

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20220109clergy_abuse_activists_mark_decade_of_struggle/

SENDING A MESSAGE: Demonstrators gather at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross yesterday to call for continued action to battle child abuse by Catholic clergy. Photo by Faith Ninivaggi

Survivors, supporters and activists of clergy abuse gathered this weekend with a "renewed energy" in hopes of changing the current statute of limitations on sex crimes 10 years after the priest sex abuse scandal that rocked the Catholic church in Boston and around the world.

About 70 people — many of them victims of sexual abuse — marched on Boston's Cathedral of the Holy Cross at the end of a three-day conference and "celebration" of the decade-long campaign to end the abuse of children within the church. But they said there is more work to be done.

"The single most effective mechanism to protecting children in the state and around the country is to change statute of limitations," said Barbara Blaine, 55, a clergy abuse survivor and activist. "We can't go back to being 12 years old again, and that leaves us feeling helpless, but what gives us hope is being active and working to prevent other children from being abused."

Anne Doyle, co-director for BishopAccountability.org, said the event also sought to thank the survivors who told about their abuse.

Archbishop Sean Cardinal O'Malley wrote in a letter last week that the church must accept responsibility for its "failings" and acknowledged that church leadership should have responded faster and more forcefully.

"We are deeply indebted to the scores of people who during the past ten years have taken leadership in planning and implementing child safety protection programs for our parishes, schools and social service agencies," O'Malley wrote.