Diocese to begin services for sexual abuse survivors Saturday By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola Gallup Independent correspondent religion@gallupindependent.com Nov. 17, 2016 GALLUP – Bishop James S. Wall, of the Diocese of Gallup, will offer his first healing service for clergy sexual abuse survivors Saturday at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Gallup. The service, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, is the first in a series of 36 scheduled healing services spanning a period of about 15 months. The services, designed to atone for clergy sexual abuse, resulted from the Gallup Diocese’s Chapter 11 plan of reorganization. As outlined in the plan’s non-monetary provisions, Wall agreed to visit each operating Catholic parish or school in which sexual abuse occurred or where identified abusers served. Diocesan officials designed the healing services to meet the plan’s requirement to have those visits. No public forum Suzanne Hammons, spokeswoman for the Diocese, said the services will consist of hymns, readings from Scripture, a reflection from the bishop and prayer. Hammons said the services are expected to last approximately 30 minutes. “After each healing service, Bishop Wall will be available to meet privately for discussion with survivors and their families – one-on-one, if they request it,” Hammons wrote in an email Tuesday. “They will be able to ask him questions and discuss any concerns they might have with him at that time.” According to the non-monetary provisions, the bishop “shall provide a forum/ discussion during his visit to address questions and comments.” Hammons said the forum/discussion time will be after the services and not open to the general public. Rather, she said, they will be reserved for the questions and comments from abuse survivors during the private meetings. “This is, first and foremost, a time for the survivors, so there is a place for a forum and discussion, and during these visits, it is provided to those affected by abuse,” Hammons said. “The format of the visit has been carefully crafted after discussion with the survivors’ committee, and it also closely follows what many other Dioceses have done and reported as productive for fostering healing.” Plaque installation Hammons acknowledged the media and “probably some parishioners” were hoping that the forum for questions and answers would be part of the service. However, she said, having private space for survivors to meet with Wall was the priority of the diocese. “Bishop Wall makes many, many visits to each parish and school, and is almost always available to meet the Catholics of these parishes and speak with them,” she said. “This does not mean we wish to ignore the concerns of Catholic parishioners – on the contrary, we welcome them!” Hammons added. “As always, I try to give out many ways of contacting us for parishioners who do wish to get in touch and ask questions.” In addition to requiring the bishop’s visits, the non-monetary provisions require the diocese to “prominently and visibly” install plaques at each Catholic parish and school stating: “This Parish (or school) is strongly committed to the emotional, physical, spiritual and moral wellbeing of all of its members. Abuse of any kind will not be tolerated.” Hammons said every church and school should have received its plaque and be in the process of installing it. Before the end of the year, three more healing services are scheduled to be offered in Arizona parishes: Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in Fort Defiance Nov. 29, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Holbrook Dec. 2, and St. Rita in Show Low Dec. 9. The series of services at other parishes and schools will resume in January. Abuse survivors who would prefer to meet with the bishop in a different setting should contact Elizabeth Terrill, the victims’ assistance coordinator pro tem, at 505-906-7357.

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