Dioceses reach out to parishes feeling isolated by abuse accusations

Published: 2004-10-26

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Ann Peacock recalls the time about 10 years ago when her parish was in shock over the removal of a priest accused of child sex abuse. "We found out through television" and there was little help from the diocese to ease the anger and pain of parishioners, she said. "We were like orphans. A different retired priest was sent out each week to say Mass. There was no discussion," she said. "It was four weeks before a diocesan official came out to talk about the situation." Now, Peacock is on a "crisis team" in the Diocese of Portland, Maine, which heads out immediately to inform parishioners about such situations. The team holds listening sessions, provides people in need with individual counseling and looks into pastoral ways of providing healing to the wounded parish community. Such teams of volunteers, also called "rapid response teams," are being formed throughout U.S. dioceses as part of the U.S. bishops' outreach policies outlined in the "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People." The charter calls for outreach programs to victims, to their families and "to faith communities in which the sex abuse occurred."

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