Sexual Abuse Healing Begins

By Amelia M. Villegas
Santa Maria Times
February 10, 2013

http://santamariatimes.com/news/opinion/mailbag/sexual-abuse-healing-begins/article_dcee851a-7342-11e2-8961-001a4bcf887a.html

At Mass this past weekend, our priest read a letter from Jose Gomez, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

The letter explained the recent actions he’s taken regarding the subject of child sexual abuse by priests over many years, a subject the Catholic Church had refused to fully address for far too long.

The archbishop’s letter said retired Cardinal Roger Mahony was relieved of all administrative and public duties, and that Bishop Thomas Curry’s request to be relieved of regional bishop responsibilities was accepted. I wholeheartedly support both actions.

Equally important, though, the letter said the files of priests who sexually abused children while serving in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles are finally being released.

The subject of sexual child abuse in the Catholic Church, at least in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, is no longer taboo. Let’s hope all other dioceses follow Archbishop Gomez’ direction.

Nothing can ever bring back the innocence of childhood so tragically stolen from too many children. But maybe these actions might be the start of a healing process for the numerous survivors of these heinous crimes.