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The Bishop’s Missed Opportunity
Gallup Independent
Sept. 28, 2016
Bishop James S. Wall passed up a perfect opportunity Saturday. He was given the chance to show the community and members of the Diocese of Gallup that he is committed to being transparent about clergy sexual abuse that took place, diocesan policies to protect children and efforts to support abuse survivors.
A panel discussion, centered on the subject of protecting children from sex abuse, was held at El Morro Theatre in conjunction with screenings of “Spotlight,” the film that won the 2016 Academy Award for Best Picture and told the story of the Boston Globe’s Pulitzer-prize winning investigation into clergy sex abuse and cover-up in the Archdiocese of Boston.
One might think that, because the Gallup Diocese is concluding its Chapter 11 reorganization case in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, the bishop would be ready to begin talking with local Catholics and the general public about this fresh start. But if you thought that, you would be wrong.
Wall was invited to be a panel member Saturday to share his perspective as bishop of the diocese. In the event he could not attend, Wall was invited to send a representative or at least provide a statement. He chose to do neither. Wall cited the diocese’s priest retreat, held earlier that week in Tucson, as the reason no one from the diocese would attend. So even though the Redemptorist Renewal Center’s website indicated the retreat ended Friday, no one from the diocese could return to Gallup by Saturday?
Whether the Gallup bishop is ready or not, the non-monetary provisions the Diocese of Gallup negotiated as part of its reorganization plan commit Wall to a number of actions whereby he will have to begin interacting with abuse survivors, Catholics in the pews and the general public.
Wall is supposed to start visiting every Catholic school and parish where abuse occurred or where an abuser served, with the bishop’s schedule being publicized at least 30 days in advance on the diocese’s website and its Voice of the Southwest publication. During those visits, according to the non-monetary provisions, the bishop “shall provide a forum/discussion during his visit to address questions and comments.”
Based on the diocese’s own list of credibly accused abusers, which continues to be an incomplete and inaccurate list, it is a very long itinerary of schools and parishes.
In Arizona, it includes Cibecue, Chinle, Concho, Fort Defiance, Holbrook, Lukachukai, McNary, Overgaard, Pinetop, Show Low, Snowflake, Springerville, St. Johns, St. Michaels, Tuba City and Winslow. In New Mexico, it includes Aragon, Blanco, Bloomfield, Bluewater, Cebolleta, Chichitah, Crownpoint, Cuba, Cubero, Farmington, Flora Vista, Gallup, Grants, Lumberton, Pinehaven, San Fidel, San Rafael, Shiprock and Thoreau.
When is the Gallup bishop going to begin these visits?
There is no indication on the diocesan website or Voice of the Southwest that even the first visit has been scheduled.
What is the bishop waiting for? Saturday’s panel discussion would have been an ideal forum for the bishop to kick off those public visits.
In addition, the panel discussion was a public relations opportunity for the Diocese of Gallup. A number of abuse survivors attended the event, some accompanied by family members, along with local Catholics and the general public. If Wall or one of his representatives had attended, they would have had the opportunity to present the diocese’s perspective with humility, compassion and grace.
But by skipping the invitation, Gallup’s bishop missed a perfect opportunity. He missed the opportunity to show the public he truly is a courageous spiritual leader, worthy of the position he holds.
In this space only does the opinion of the Gallup Independent Editorial Board appear.
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