A national group of people who have been sexually abused by priests has called on Archbishop John G. Vlazny to take decisive action to reach out to survivors, particularly in the wake of the Portland archdiocese's recent bankruptcy filing.
The president and the Oregon leader of Chicago-based Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, hand-delivered a letter and a flier Thursday to Bud Bunce, communications director for the Roman Catholic archdiocese. Bunce promised to deliver the material to Vlazny, who was not present Thursday morning at the archdiocese's East Burnside headquarters.
"We are the sons and daughters of Catholic families who have been raped and sexually assaulted by priests of the Catholic church, and we are seeking healing," Barbara Blaine, the group's president, told Bunce outside the archdiocesan office before TV, radio and print reporters.
The flier speaks directly to Catholics in the pews, asking them to be skeptical of bishops who plead financial hardship, to ask church officials to fully disclose information about priest sex-abuse allegations, to urge witnesses and victims to come forward, and to stop regarding victims as enemies of the church.
Blaine and Bill Crane, Oregon's SNAP leader, are asking Vlazny to publish the flier in the weekly Catholic Sentinel newspaper, which circulates throughout the Western Oregon boundaries of the Archdiocese of Portland, to post the flier on the archdiocese's Web site, and to ask pastors to include the flier in Sunday parish bulletins.
"We know he is committed to outreach for victims, and we're asking him to take these concrete steps," Blaine said.
The archbishop has continuously tried to reach out to victims, Bunce responded. He holds three healing services each year, for example, and offers to meet with plaintiffs in lawsuits against the archdiocese. Litigation, however, sometimes complicates the effort for the two parties to meet, Bunce added.
Crane disputed the value of the healing services. He said victims have complained that no one has informed them about the services. In addition, Blaine said, many victims are psychologically unable to set foot in a Catholic church.
SNAP officials argue that the archdiocese's bankruptcy may be hurting victims further. For example, Blaine and Crane wrote in their letter to Vlazny, the bankruptcy's negative publicity may prompt some to remain "suffering in silence, secrecy and shame."
Others may feel guilty not only about the abuse but also for contributing to the bankruptcy.
"We feel like we're the enemy," Crane said. "We're the ones who are taking away the soup kitchens."
But Blaine said her brief conversation with Bunce gave her hope.
"He's telling us that the bishop is trying to reach out to victims," she said afterward. "We think that is a positive sign."
Steve Woodward: 503-294-5134; stevewoodward@news.oregonian.com