Cover
story Church in Crisis Chicago laity denounce bishops betrayal
of trust
By ROBERT McCLORY
Chicago
We have seen too little accountability, too much privilege.
Our shepherds are more concerned with the paint on the ranch house than the
well-being of their flocks.
What faith we might have had in our leaders
has been broken, broken, broken.
The speaker, Julie Drew, a public schoolteacher, was one of the
scores that addressed a packed room of 300 at St. Josephs School in
suburban Wilmette, Ill., May 21. This was one of 38 sites in the Chicago
archdiocese where laity were urged to voice their concerns and suggestions
about the priest abuse scandal. And everywhere, it seemed, the major and most
passionate topic was the hierarchys betrayal of trust.
We have an institutionalized, systemic cover-up, said Betty
Vitale, a social worker, at the Wilmette gathering. She expressed fear that
whatever policies the bishops develop at their meeting in June will have
slick cover-ups built into them.
The church has abrogated all trust, said a former
school principal from Winnetka. Our institutional leaders have put their
needs above the needs of the people of God.
A recovery of trust will come only from a binding national policy,
said an elderly Wilmette man, who declared that clergy, laity and religious
must participate in its development and implementation. He also called for a
nationwide forum on the selection process for bishops, the ordination of women
and homosexuals and remarriage after divorce. The bishops must become
full partners with the people of God, he said.
The archdiocesan hearings were authorized by Cardinal Francis
George to provide lay input for the June meeting. They were moderated by
members of the Chicago Catholic Lawyers Guild, who taped all the sessions and
will compile a summary for George. The cardinal declined to attend any of the
hearings lest his presence inhibit speakers, said a spokesman. His
absence was duly noted by speakers in Wilmette and elsewhere.
Our leaders need to see our faces, hear our voices,
empathize with our pain, our anger, said one woman. Added a physician who
has treated abused children, Im sorry theres no one here in
red. They need to understand why weve lost trust in church
leaders.
Although many sites were packed, only 50 attended the one at St.
Margaret Mary, a large, middle-class parish on Chicagos north side. Here
as in Wilmette and at other sites, there were mixed feelings about the proposed
zero-tolerance policy, which would permanently remove a priest from all
ministry after just one substantiated charge. Some argued it was the only way
to go, given the mood of the laity; others said it was too rigid and would only
provide a convenient legalism for bishops to hide
behind.
Theres got to be room for forgiveness, said a
man at Holy Name Cathedral where about 100 attended the hearing. Another agreed
with him in principle but recommended zero tolerance for bishops who
cover up abuse. At several sites speakers called explicitly for the
resignation of Cardinals Bernard Law of Boston, Edward Egan of New York and
Roger Mahony of Los Angeles as a necessary prerequisite for regaining
trust.
The charge of homosexual priests as abusers was raised at many
sites but was frequently rebutted by other speakers. Said a retired
schoolteacher at St. Margaret Mary, This is not about homosexuality. The
perpetrators did not have access to young girls as they did to young boys. And
we are only now beginning to hear from women who have been abused. The bishops
must not allow this to be turned into a witch hunt for gay priests.
Robert McClory is an NCR special report writer who lives
in Chicago.
National Catholic Reporter, May 31,
2002
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