Diocese Settlement Only Part of Healing for Victims

By Jacqueline Quynh
KPA
January 31, 2014

http://www.kpax.com/news/diocese-settlement-only-part-of-the-victims-healing/

The Catholic Diocese of Helena filed for federal bankruptcy protection Friday.

It's part of a deal to settle allegations of widespread sexual abuse by clergy.

The allegations include abuse of more than 360 children from the 1930s to the 1980s across western Montana.

Under the terms of the settlement the church will set up a $15 million fund for victims and more for victims who have not yet come forward.

The church also must apologize and name clergy accused of abuse.

Victims of Clergy abuse many who are Native Americans say the bankruptcy does little to calm the anguish that they have suffered for years.

Some of the 95 victims represented by the Tamaki Law firm who helped with the settlement spoke out at the Missoula County Courthouse Friday.

"Who wants to talk about something like that?" asked Jackie Trotchi.

Raised, by very religious parents, as a child Jackie Trotchi dreamed of becoming a nun as she attended St. Mary's School in Helena.

"I thought I was in a safe place, I thought the church would be a safe place,"

But that belief was shattered.

"When a priest started to molest me, and nuns was abusing my sisters," Jackie Trotchi said.

Those crimes would go hidden for years.

"So I gave up a lifetime dream, what I thought was a good career, and not only that but soon after I lost my religion," Trotchi said

She spent years not really knowing how to get over the abuse. Others say no one, not even family members believed them.

"And you don't really want to talk about it to just anybody, but like who do you talk to, I mean you got to look back at the times this was happening, 40s, 50s, 60," said Thomas Lozo Jr.

"I would pray not me, please God not me, not me," said Garry Salois.

And now even decades later, some victims say the scars of the abuse are still with them, in some cases making it harder to be close with loved ones. Trotchi doesn't want the sum of the settlement to distract from the real message.

"That we're telling the truth? It's a big deal, the most important, the most important thing, but it doesn't take away the pain I've dealt with for over 50 years, the disappointment because I wanted to be a nun," Trotchi said.

Trotchi fears the abuse may still continue, and hopes this action, will help those who have been abused by the clergy to come forward and get help.