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	Priest Says Fund Misunderstood Collection Reignites Argument over Abuse By Annmarie Timmins Concord Monitor [New Hampshire] October 13, 2006 http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061013/REPOSITORY/610130317/1043/NEWS01 he Catholic priest leading a collection for needy clergy who've retired, become ill or been removed from ministry for sexually abusing minors responded to critics yesterday, saying his effort was not meant to offend victims of abuse. In a letter sent to clergy last week seeking donations, the Rev. Michael Griffin sympathized with accused priests as having had to "endure" the abuse scandal. "All I can say is, look at the Amish," Griffin said in an interview, referring to the forgiveness a Pennsylvania Amish community extended to the man who recently killed several Amish schoolchildren. "They have given us a wonderful example of Christian forgiving." Griffin of Dover began soliciting donations for needy priests last week by circulating a three-page letter among the diocese's clergy. The effort is the work of a newly formed nonprofit called The Organization of Concerned Priests, which is governed by a board of 12 priests. In his letter, Griffin said the "Mercy Fund" had been started as a way to help priests accused of sexual misconduct, including those jailed and defrocked. It was later expanded to include sick and retired priests. Griffin asked clergy to consider a gift of $1,000. "In the spring of 2005, in the midst of the turmoil, we began to sympathize with the men involved in the scandal," Griffin wrote. "We could not imagine how we could have coped if we were in their shoes. How would we face our families, the members of our parishes, our friends and the youth to whom we ministered?" Griffin's letter continued: "How would we respond to being deprived of our priestly activity that had been the center of our lives for so many years, the pain of the publicity in the press, TV and radio? We decided to do something for our brother priests who had to endure the consequences of the scandal." Griffin told his fellow priests that Bishop John McCormack was "supportive" of the collection effort and was being kept informed of its progress. Pat McGree, a spokesman for the Diocese of Manchester, said McCormack had not taken a position on the "Mercy Fund" but was aware that it had been created. After news of the collection reached the media, lawyers and advocates who work with victims of clergy abuse responded angrily. Some opposed the concept altogether. Others said they were offended by the group's tone and refusal to also reach out to victims. "These victims have never heard, "I am sorry" from the bishop or the priests," said Anne Pullen, president of the local chapter of Voice of the Faithful, a Catholic activist organization. "This is like a slap in the face to victims." Most of the priests associated with the collection either did not return calls or refused comment. Griffin, their spokesman, said his letter and collection are being misinterpreted. "We are dealing with the abusers," he said. "This is not a letter about those who have been abused. We can only do one thing at a time." Since the clergy abuse scandal broke in 2002, dozens of priests have been put on administrative leave or imprisoned for sexually assaulting minors. The diocese has paid millions to settle victims' claims and offered them free counseling and an audience with McCormack. The diocese has also started a support group for survivors. Griffin said given that response, the victims have been treated with mercy and kindness by the church. "Any money the diocese has given to victims has come from the work of us priests," Griffin said. "I think that that shows compassion from the priests." Griffin did not know how much money had been collected, but he said the money would help priests with rent, medicine or counseling services, among other expenses. The Rev. Paul Gregoire, a retired priest from Manchester who was falsely accused of misconduct and later cleared, is serving as the group's treasurer. He said yesterday he has received donations but had not tallied them. He said he could not give an estimate. Eileen Nevins, a Hampton lawyer who helped the priests start their nonprofit group, echoed Griffin's comments yesterday about the purpose of the collection. She said it was unfair to focus on only the accused priests when the collection will help sick and retired priests as well. "You have to look at who they are," Nevins said referring to Griffin and the others associated with The Organization of Concerned Priests. "They are priests whose very work is to be merciful, to be forgiving and to find a way to help everyone. You've got to look at it from their perspective. To put a twist on that is unfair." Nevins also said that contrary to accusations from victim advocates, the priests have been responsive to victims. But they've done it privately in one-on-one counseling sessions. "They don't want their names in the paper," Nevins said. "There are many priests out there who have been helpful to victims. But no one wants to see that on the front page" of the newspaper. A priest who asked not to be named received Griffin's letter but did not say whether he would be contributing. But he did understand the intent behind the request. "Those who are victims, I can understand their perception," the priest said. "I want to be sensitive and understanding to victims. I don't know how they feel, but I do understand that they have been hurt." The priest continued. "But the intent of this is not to hurt them," he said. "This says that everybody, regardless of what they've done, deserves human dignity." (Annmarie Timmins can be reached at 369-3323 or at atimmins@cmonitor.com.) Related links: Read the letter to priests (pdf file)
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