Thanks to Whispers in the Loggia, I have just read a grand jury report on clergy sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. (.pdf file). One would have thought that after the problems in Boston, New York, Milwaukee, and elsewhere the American Catholic hierarchy would have pulled up their purple or red socks and tried to put things right. This report seems to demonstrate that, in Philadelphia at least, priests were continually reassigned after credible accusations of child sexual abuse and the victims were ignored or prevented from reporting their abuse to the authorities.
A first for the US, I believe, is that the Grand Jury recommended that the clergyman responsible for assignment of priests in the Philadelphia Archdiocese also be charged with endangering the welfare of minors, through his policy of moving those accused priests around. While the Grand jury would have liked to have charged the retired Archbishop of Philadelphia on the same grounds, Cardinal Bevilaqua, in his late 80’s, is now said by his doctors to be quite ill and suffering with dementia. The Grand Jury “reluctantly” did not recommend that he be charged.
What can be learned from this sad sorry tale?
First, any organisation which has charge of children or vulnerable adults and finds that an adult responsible for the welfare of the children or vulnerable adults has been accused of abuse of any kind must immediately suspend that adult and report the allegations to the authorities.
Second, support of the victim must be independent of the organisation and must trump any other considerations.
Third, ensure that all previous cases of abuse are fully investigated, reported to the authorities, and the victims listened to and action taken.