Bishop to hold abuse healing services By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola Gallup Independent correspondent religion@gallupindependent.com February 22, 2017 GALLUP – After postponing six healing services for clergy sex abuse survivors in recent weeks, Bishop James S. Wall will offer two services this week at Catholic parishes in Grants and Winslow, Arizona. The services, designed to atone for clergy sexual abuse of minors, are a requirement of the nonmonetary provisions of the Diocese of Gallup’s Chapter 11 plan of reorganization. As part of the provisions, Wall agreed to visit every Catholic school or parish where a credibly accused abuser was either accused of abuse or assigned to ministry. Wall’s first healing service this week will be at St. Teresa of Avila Church in Grants at 6 p.m. Thursday. According to the Gallup Diocese, the Rev. Conran Runnebaum, OFM, was the only Catholic priest assigned to St. Teresa’s who has been credibly accused of sexually abusing a minor. The Franciscan friar was assigned to St. Teresa’s from 1955 to 1958. However, at least two priests accused of sexual misconduct involving an adult victim have been assigned to St. Teresa. On Friday, Wall will offer a healing service in Winslow, a town with two Catholic churches whose parishioners have been subjected to at least 15 known pedophile clerics. The Winslow service will be at Madre de Dios Parish at 7 p.m. Friday. According to the Diocese of Gallup, the following credibly accused priests were assigned to Madre de Dios, a mostly Hispanic parish on Winslow’s south side: John Degnan (1961). John T. Sullivan (1961-62). Robert J. Kirsch (1963-64). Samuel Wilson (1964-65). Clement A. Hageman (1965-75). Douglas McNeill (1969-70). Raul Sanchez (1975-76). John Boland (1981-83). At the conclusion of both healing services, Wall will be available to meet privately with any abuse survivors and their family members who would like to speak with him. Postponed services When diocesan officials initially released the healing services schedule, the Gallup bishop was slated to hold 36 services across the diocese over a 15-month period, with the first service being held at Sacred Heart Cathedral Nov. 19. Since then, however, Wall has postponed six services. Suzanne Hammons, spokeswoman for the diocese, said Wall postponed five services in January because he had a “mild medical condition” that required treatment in Phoenix. A sixth service, originally scheduled for Saturday in St. Johns, Arizona, has been postponed because of a scheduling conflict with the bishop’s annual Mardi Gras fundraiser celebration in Gallup. Hammons was asked in January about the postponed services, which still have not been rescheduled. “We don’t have a rescheduled date yet because whenever a new date is posted, survivors must be given at least 30 days’ notice so they can plan accordingly,” Hammons wrote in an email Jan. 18. “We’re consulting with the Survivors’ Committee at the moment for their input on how far in advance they’d like a new date posted. When we have the new dates, I’ll send out a press release and post the updated schedule on the website.” Catholic communities that need rescheduled services include those in Lumberton and Farmington as well as those in Chinle, Page, Tuba City, and St. Johns, Arizona. Abuse survivors who do not want to attend a healing service can request a private meeting with the Gallup bishop. They should contact Elizabeth Terrill, the victims assistance coordinator pro tem, 505-906-7357.

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