Please take a moment to read this message from survivors of clergy abuse
A message from clergy sex abuse victims to the People of the Archdiocese of Seattle, WA
We are adults who were sexually abused by priests when we were children. The impact on us and our family members has been severe. We are asking you to help to ensure that no more children are abused in the Catholic Church.
We know these are trying times for every member of the Catholic faith. Please consider looking at this issue from the perspective of the victims. In the days ahead, we ask that you consider doing the following:
Be skeptical. For decades, bishops deceived parishioners about how many priests abused children and what was done with them. For years, bishops used threats, including the threat of excommunication to silence victims and their advocates. Lately, dozens of bishops have used threats of potential bankruptcy to try and force victims to keep the truth from emerging in court and accept unjust settlements. Bishop Skylstad in Spokane is doing this today. He is on the brink of spending millions of dollars on bankruptcy rather than be accountable for his personal role in protecting and enabling one of the most prolific abusers of children in the nation. Please join us in asking him to communicate more openly with us, and with all of you concerning the options available beside the uncertain, costly one of bankruptcy.
Understand that this matter involves the Seattle Archdiocese as well. They have denied any responsibility for Patrick O'Donnell despite having assigned him to pastoral responsibilities at St. Paul Parish in Seattle during the time he was being treated for pedophilia. They are named in this lawsuit because O'Donnell perpetrated his abuse on our children and the children of St. Paul Parish while in this assignment. During that same time period, the church facilitated him acquiring a Ph. D. in psychology. His dissertation was entitled Evoking Trust in Children. Archbishop Alexander Brunett and his lawyers deny any responsibility, citing a lack of evidence that they were even aware of why O'Donnell was here. Their argument defies credibility but, if true, raises even more alarming questions about their concern for the safety of parishioners. Consider contacting Archbishop Brunett and requesting that he consult with Bishop Skylstad in an effort to resolve this issue in a healing, just, and truthful manner.
Recognize that we are Catholic sons and daughters. Some church official's spin on bankruptcy portrays victims of abuse as enemies of the church and forces the faithful into an adversarial position with respect to survivors. Please bear in mind that we were Catholic children from Catholic families who were raped and sexually assaulted by trusted priests. Our lives and our faith have been shattered. Our families and parish communities are still hurting. If we had kept silent most of our perpetrators would still be in ministry today. More children would have been abused. Victims should be thanked for coming forward and speaking the truth. By speaking out about the abuse we are providing a gift to the church. The truth must be acknowledged before genuine healing can take place.
If you care about the future of the church and our children, please consider adding your voice to this discussion.
Contact: Diocese of Spokane: 509-358-7305, Archdiocese of Seattle: 206-382-4560