Archbishop Charles Chaput
Six months ago this week (March 8), I began my service as Archbishop of Philadelphia. One of the reasons I write this weekly column is to speak directly and freely to our clergy and people.
Today is a good time to reflect on the work that’s been done so far to resolve the challenges facing the Archdiocese, and the work – a great deal of work – that still remains.
As I’ve noted in the past, when I arrived in Philadelphia I began a comprehensive financial and legal review of our archdiocesan operations. That process has been thorough and sobering. It will continue for several more months. But today we do have a far better sense of our limited resources and the scope of our problems.
I’ve shared this information in detail with our Priests’ Council, our Archdiocesan Finance Council and our newly formed Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, which I’ll focus on in my column next week. Going forward, all three of these key advisory bodies will have regular, accurate briefings on the issues we face as a Church.
In the months since last September, we’ve reorganized our legal representation; hired a new and very capable chief financial officer; developed new internal financial controls; begun the work of improving our business policies, personnel and procedures; brought the Blue Ribbon Commission’s important work to conclusion; started a new education foundation; and carried out a difficult — but necessary and fair — appeals process for schools slated to regionalize or close.
Since October I’ve appointed seven new members to our Archdiocesan Review Board to deal with allegations of clergy sexual abuse. All of them have outstanding backgrounds in law enforcement or victim assistance.
I’ve also had the good fortune of working with several people appointed by Cardinal Rigali in his final months of service who’ve done great work in addressing the problem of sexual abuse and making the Archdiocese a safe environment.
These include victims’ advocate Ms. Mary Achilles, who’s overseen the training of more than 25,000 archdiocesan clergy, staff and volunteers in identifying and reporting suspected abuse; and Ms. Leslie Davila, formerly with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office, who’s reorganized and greatly improved our victim assistance efforts.
They also include Mr. Al Toczydlowski, a former Philadelphia Deputy District Attorney, who works closely with law enforcement, serves as our Delegate for Investigations, and helped develop our current abuse reporting and investigation policies; and Ms. Gina Maisto Smith, also a veteran former Philadelphia prosecutor, who has led an exhaustive review of our abuse-related policies, procedures and cases stemming from the 2011 grand jury report.
A point worth remembering is this: We need to acknowledge our failures of the past in dealing with clergy sexual abuse, and we need to help victims of that abuse to heal. We also need to acknowledge that no entity in the United States today – Catholic or otherwise – seeks more earnestly than the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to prevent abuse and to protect its people. And that commitment will only grow stronger in the years ahead.
I can’t conclude this column without noting that one item – a very painful one — remains a source of great frustration for our priests, our people and for me. More than two dozen of my brother priests who were placed on leave in the wake of last year’s grand jury report remain on administrative leave. On several different occasions, our priests have heard that these cases would end “soon.”
We’re now in March 2012, exactly one year later. Justice requires a resolution of these men’s circumstances.
Our ability to act on these cases has been limited by a number of stubborn legal and practical factors. But some of these cases are very near conclusion. My hope is that most will be completed and announced over the next eight weeks. A few will likely be delayed because of continuing legal review.
Our attorneys are committed to cooperating fully with law enforcement. In that spirit, I’ve asked them to inform the court that, unless otherwise prohibited, we intend to begin announcing the resolution of these administrative leave cases in the coming weeks.
What we’ve achieved in the last six months is small compared to what remains to be done. But it’s a start; a beginning made hopeful by the good will and kindness of our priests and our people.
I said six months ago that I was proud and grateful to be your bishop. I feel that even more strongly today. So I ask again for your prayers and your support. And as I said last September: You will have from me – now and always — all of my energy, and my whole heart.
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Thank you, Your Excellency, for your concern for the accused priests as well as for the victims. I’m from the West Coast and our parish community had our priest taken away from us years ago. After several months, we contacted the diocese, and were encouraged not to bring the matter up again. Nothing was told us after this. We had to find what news we could from the newspapers.
If the priests are innocent or if they’re guilty, let the process be open, let the process *proceed* — but let it not just stop, with uncertainty and doubt ever lingering. These accusations affect more than one person; it affects the congregations left behind.
Special prayers are ever in my heart for our bishops, our priests and our religious. Amen.
We are told we need to take on the sins of the other. Always, this is difficult for us. We find it difficult to even admit or take responsibility for our own sins. We pray for all the victims of this very sad chapter in our Church. You are bringing everything into the light, where it can be seen, recognized and healed. Thank you for your openness,honesty and herculean efforts to protect the innocent and allow justice to prevail with mercy. Our Church will survive having learned some very hard lessons. You have put into place policies and procedures to protect our children in the future. Thank you Archbishop. You have been sent to us to lead us to Christ. We pray for you every day John and Bernadette Brokars
I have been a victim of sexual abuse but not by a priest. I hope these priest will be punished and go to jail even though they were bestowed the priestly orders. It is not right to keep these men out of jail. They must pay for their sins against children. Please, Archbishop, no more “special privileges for these sinful men/priests.” They will serve as an example to other priest who believe they can sin against children but because they are special as former priests they won’t have to go to jail. Also, please find out about the seminarians who have these tendencies of sex with minors–why can’t you prevent them from being ordained? Also, there must be a closer watch on priests whenever they are dealing with one-on-one. I am deeply affected by all this sex scandal. All I can see when I see a priest is to ask him “have you had sex yet?” I know it sounds terrible. This is a very painful time for me to below to the Church in Philadelphia. I pray for the victims. As you know, their lives are ruined for life.
I hope that your estimate of 8 weeks for your brother priests is accurate.
Yes, these cases need to be solved, now. These Priests have suffered a fate worse than death: to be called in and told to leave in less than two hours, and then to be out. It’s really unbelieveable. It’s no wonder why Rigali is now gone, because of his handling of this situation. I know of no other process, civil or canonical that has has treated so loosely.
First it was six months to nine months. Then in Decemeber is was three more months. Now it’s eight more weeks. It would be nice if you would reach out to these Priests personally, since they have yet to here personally from you, Archbishop. Let’s only continue to hope that eight more weeks will finally be it.
Whose side are you on? The Priests or the child victims? Why not think of the persons sinned against? If a priest is accused but has not sinned, then he shares in Christ’s passion and Christ will save him.
“…Justice requires a resolution of these men’s circumstances….”
(priests on administrative leave)
Justice requires a resolution of the archdiocesan abuse victims circumstances as well, Archbishop Chaput.
Thank you for your courageous leadership. I am grateful to hear that justice is imminent for those currently placed on administrative leave. It is no secret that our parishes are desperately in need of good holy priest. And for those good holy priest that have been on administrative leave for a year now, their return cannot come one day to soon. God bless you Archbishop!
Archbishop Chaput,
Thank you for your dedication, your sacrifices, and your encouragement. The many ways that you call us to be more faithful disciples are such a gift. I am praying for you and all of the people working hard to overcome the challenges our Church faces. Thank you for being our shepherd! God bless you!
Thank you for your openness and honesty. When you list all that has been accomplished in the past six months, it is extraordinary! May God continue to bless the good work he has begun through you. Thank you, too, for your commitment to Catholic education!