Boston looks ahead after Law resignation: auxiliary bishop pledges support for survivors - Church In Crisis

National Catholic Reporter, Dec 27, 2002 by Chuck Colbert

What does the future hold for the local church in the nation's fourth largest diocese? That question is on the minds of nearly everyone here, including members of the laity, clergy, hierarchy and hundreds--if not thousands--of victim-survivors of clerical sex abuse and their families, friends and supporters.

Just about everyone agrees that the resignation of Cardinal Bernard Law has helped ease the pain, anger and sense of betrayal experienced by so many during the sex abuse scandal that has rocked this very Catholic city and region. But what happens beyond his resignation remains unknown, with few clear plans developed.

On Dec. 13 Law attempted a graceful exit, speaking before members of the media at a news conference on the grounds of the chancery offices. "It is my hope and it is my prayer that my resignation as archbishop might help the archdiocese to experience healing, reconciliation and experience unity," he said, reading from a prepared statement. "To all those who have suffered from my shortcomings and from my mistakes, I once again apologize and from them I beg forgiveness." Law took no questions from the press, and his statement was barely three minutes long.

Still, the road to healing, reconciliation and reform is no doubt a daunting task in the months and perhaps years that it will take to deal fully with the crisis. Divisions run deep in Boston between the hierarchy and abuse survivors, with members of the Catholic laity remaining in between. A profound sense of distrust prevails, as well as a growing perception that power dynamics have changed.

"The situation in Boston is too volatile," says Luise Dittrich, a founding member and spokeswoman for the Voice of the Faithful, the largest church-reform advocacy group to form this year in the wake of scandal. "There's too much skepticism, too much cynicism to go back to business as usual," she said. "The burden of proof has shifted.

"Before, the survivors and the laity had to prove ourselves to the hierarchy," she said. "The laity had to prove we were praying hard enough. [Voice of the Faithful] had to prove we were orthodox enough. The survivors had to prove they were hurt enough and not lying. Now the burden is on the bishops who squandered our trust. If some of them continue to charge all of us with being anti-Catholic or dissident that will be very self-defeating.

"The dominoes have started to fall. We hope the hierarchy embraces the laity and begins to reach out and work with us."

A shift in dynamics

Another shift in dynamics seems certain in the post-Law local church: Whoever is appointed as the new archbishop needs to be someone with pastoral presence, open to meaningful dialogue with a wide range of people.

Bishop Richard G. Lennon, the newly appointed apostolic administrator and temporary leader of the Boston archdiocese, took small but significant pastoral steps to facilitate the journey of healing and reconciliation. Lennon, during his first homily Dec. 15 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, acknowledged the magnitude of the task:

"The events of the past 11 months, and especially the last several days, have been momentous and unique," he said. "These events have evoked many different responses, many times, individuals having a combination of responses, such as dismay frustration and hierarchy and profound sense of sadness."

Nonetheless, Lennon offered hope and encouragement. "God willing, not only can things change, but things can improve," he said. "I pledge to do all that I can to be a shepherd for this great archdiocese, relying on the prayers, the support, the assistance of all of God's people. For the household of faith is only as strong as when all of us are united in that faith."

Between 300 and 400 worshipers--at least twice the number in attendance the previous week--gave Lennon a standing ovation after his homily.

Nevertheless, not everyone was satisfied. Richard Link of Somerville, Mass., called Lennon's homily "far too institutional." Link, who says he was abused by a priest in a different diocese, said, "He had a chance to turn things around and he didn't."

Yet for others, just as Lennon's words sounded a new tenor and tone, so did his actions. After greeting worshipers after the 11 a.m. Mass, some of whom he warmly embraced, Lennon stepped outside briefly to converse with victims and their supporters.

One survivor Robert Hatch, 45, had the opportunity for a short conversation with the bishop. "I told him what happened to me, and he said, `I'm sorry, God bless you,' and I said thank you," said Hatch, who alleges that a priest abused him when he was a teenager.

Along with dozens of others, Hatch has been protesting outside the cathedral for months. "We want to see deeds more than words," Hatch explained. "We victims will be watching him with a close eye to make sure that this doesn't happen again."

One onlooker, who asked not to be identified, said, "I give Bishop Lennon credit for stepping outside. He did that, and Cardinal Law never did."

With the whole church