Deacon Greg Kandra, over at The Deacon's Bench, writes about and links to the incredible 10-page memo on the sex abuse scandal written by a layman and father of three in 2002 to Archbishop Wilton Gregory, who was bishop of Belleville and president of the USCCB at the time. The memo, which addresses how the Church handled the abuse crisis, helped shape the changes later put in place to protect children.
Here's a brief excerpt, stunning in its honesty when you consider that this man was speaking to his boss and the head of the bishops' conference:
"You should know by now that our children are more important to Sharon and me than anything in the world. Let me repeat that in bold Italics: Our children are more important to Sharon and me than anything in the world. With all due respect, though you probably come as close to understanding the significance of that statement as any bishop in the Church, you don't. You can't. No priest, no religious, no lay person who is not a parent can truly appreciate the incredible weight of that single sentence any more than I could before Erin was born. Three children later, I'm not sure I fully grasp it yet, and I know I can't adequately articulate it for you in a simple memorandum. Similarly, I could never hope to fully comprehend how your pastoral ministry is the most important thing in the world to you. I can witness your vocation and try to appreciate the extraordinary commitment you have made to the Church, but I am not and will likely never be a priest. I may work in your chancery, but I am, above all else, Sharon's husband and Erin, Jonathan and James' dad.
"As such, just as you are deeply wounded and even angered when I make a comment you believe is not supportive of a Church position or one of Her pillars, so too am I wounded and angered when the Church we both love (and to Whom we have both, in distinctly different degrees, dedicated our working lives) chooses to disregard the wellbeing of Her children -- my children -- to protect Her own icons and Her image."
Go to The Deacon's Bench for the back story by clicking HERE. Then read the memo in its entirety in pdf format by clicking HERE.
