World News
Bishops launch confidential survey of sex abuse victims
Published: March 30, 2005
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. Catholic bishops' Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse and the National Review Board have launched a national study seeking victims' input on how the church can do a better job of preventing sexual abuse of minors and responding to victims. The study is the first phase of a new Response and Prevention Project aimed at helping church leaders respond more pastorally and effectively to abuse victims and improve abuse prevention practices throughout the church. It seeks to give sexual abuse survivors a voice in helping other victims of abuse and to find ways to improve the church's ministry to victims and their families, fostering the healing process. The key to the study is a confidential online questionnaire, available at www.victim-outreach.com. The questionnaire itself was developed through a series of focus groups across the country that were comprised of clergy abuse survivors.
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