Abandoned Altars

It’s going to be an uphill push to sell World Catholic Abuse Survivors Day. Just getting the word out to victims and survivors is a struggle.

However, there’s one group already working on it. It seems the Church knows and is already planning counter-moves. On December 15, the pope’s own preacher, Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa in an Advent address called for a “day of fasting and penance” over the clergy sex abuse scandal to ask God’s forgiveness and express solidarity for victims.

Well, that should take care of it!

Actually, there was a time when such an action – especially if coupled with evidence of real concern and willingness to reform – would have been gratefully welcomed as a sign that the Church “got it” and was making an honest effort to fix the problem. But those days are long past.

(more…)

Comments Off

For over a decade, victims and survivors of sexual and other abuse within the Roman Catholic Church have been struggling for justice and reform. Grassroots organizations, such as SNAP and the former Linkup and other have led the long, hard fight for recognition, compensation, and safegaurds for future generations.

It’s been a difficult and thankless struggle and a great deal of work needs to be done. Yet, the strides made have been great. The public is now aware of the problems within the Church as never before. Despite a great deal of denial, the hierarchy has acknowledged the evil has been done. Many victims have won handsome settlements. And the laity has been aroused and many are asking questions.

Maybe it’s time to change tactics. Maybe it’s time to celebrate our accomplishments — and in so doing, take the movement to a whole new level.

World Catholic Abuse Survivors Day is a proposal for such an event, put on by survivors and supporters around the world. It’s a simple idea, but it embodies a revolutionary new strategy of engaging the Church.

(more…)

Comments(9)