Alleged Abuse Victim Reacts to Pope's Resignation

WLNS
February 12, 2013

http://www.wlns.com/story/21130680/alleged-abuse-victim-reacts-to-popes-resignation

It may never be known whether Pope Benedict's resignation had anything to do with increasing cases of child sexual abuse within the clergy.

 Nick Perreault spoke to a victim who says he was abused by a priest in the 50's he believes the resignation is coincidental, but hopes the it will bring a change to the church.

"The era of cover up and conspiracy in the Catholic church has to end," said Greg Guggemos.

It's something Greg Guggemos says he unfortunately witnessed first hand.

In 2010 he received a settlement from the Diocese of Lansing after he alleged that Monsignor John Slowey assaulted him in the 50's, while he was living at the St. Vincent orphanage.

"Did the church ever admit to Slowey abusing me or that they had any information in their files that he abused me, the answer is no," Guggemos said.

Denial is something that Guggemos says the church and it's leaders, including Pope Benedict XVI have held onto for far too long.

"He's had an opportunity to take the necessary steps to put some transparency in the church and he hasn't done so."

To bring the dark truth of child sex abuse cases in the church to light.

"Imagine the shock waves and hopes that would be generated in the waning days the Pope demoted, disciplined, or deproct even a handful of bishops, who are concealing child sex crimes," Guggemos said.

Because ultimately Guggemos says it's the children that are impacted the most.

"Step up to the plate, acknowledge what happened and make the records available, It will never change what happened to me, but all we can do is hope that it protects children on an on-going basis," Guggemos said.

And Guggemos hopes a new Pope will restore that transparency and credibility in the church that he says has been tarnished over the years.

Back in 2010, the Diocese of Lansing said it's not that Greg Guggemos's allegations were false, they just didn't have a way of verifying it.

The priest involved passed away decades before the settlement.