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QUIK-CLICK GUIDE TO THIS
PAGE
What To Do If You Are
a Victim
Resources for Victims
What the Archdiocese Is Doing
What the U.S. Bishops Are Doing
What the Vatican Is Doing
What Catholics Can Do
Prayers for Healing
Reflections
on the Sex Abuse Crisis
What to Do If Your Priest Is Accused
Information About
Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church
Many individuals and the Catholic community
at large continue
to suffer the devastating consequences of the sexual abuse of
minors by priests and other church personnel.
We continue to
grieve and to pray for the victims of this abuse and for their
families, and for all who have been injured or hurt by the
scandal. As Pope John Paul II said, the sexual abuse of
children and young people "is rightly considered a crime by
society; it is also an appalling sin in the eyes of God."
The pastors and pastoral staff members of the Waterloo parishes
are available to visit with anyone, including victims and family
members, who wish to discuss any aspect of the abuse scandal in
a private and confidential way.
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What
You Can Do If You Are
a Victim
of
Sexual Abuse by Church Personnel
If you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual abuse
by a priest, deacon, or individual representing the Catholic
Church there are several things you can do:
•
Contact the Archdiocese of Dubuque's Office of Child
Protection
at 800-876-3546.
• Contact a professional Victim Assistance Coordinator who
is under
contract to provide services to the Archdiocese but is not an
employee
of the Church.
• Contact the Iowa Child Abuse Reporting Hotline
at 800-362-2178.
•
Contact local child protection agencies, a private
attorney, or a support
group.
• Contact the appropriate
law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction
where the abuse occurred.
In the Archdiocese of Dubuque, professional Victim
Assistance Coordi-nators receive reports of
abuse, help victims contact civil authorities, and provide
referrals for spiritual care, mental health services, social
services, and support groups.
Archdiocese of Dubuque Victims Assistance Coordinators
Dr. Thomas Anderegg (phone 563-556-1225)
Joan Hoffmann (phone 866-319-4636)
• • •
More
Resources for Victims
U.S. Bishops'
Secretariat for Child and Youth Protection
Archdiocese of Dubuque/Office for the Protection of Children
Hope and
Healing Ministries
Committed to Freedom Ministries
Mary's Hope
Workshops
Survivors Network of
Those Abused by Priests
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How
the Sexual Abuse Problem
Is Being Addressed
What the Archdiocese is Doing
Sexual Misconduct Policy (1993)
Policy for the Protection of Minors (2006)
Annual Compliance Reports and Audits
Archbishop's Public Apology/April 10, 2008
Table of Accused Priests
Lawsuits settled
What The U.S. Bishops Are Doing
Frequently
Asked Questions
U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops Archives
List
of Victim Assistance Coordinators in U.S. Dioceses
Questions and Answers About How Allegations Are Resolved (2010)
Text
of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People
(2002)
Report of
the National Review Board (2007)
Annual Report on the Implementation of the Charter (2008)
Annual Report on the Implementation of the Charter (2009)
Annual Report on the Implementation of the Charter (2010)
U.S. Bishops' Affirmation (2011)
Response of U.S. Catholics to the Abuse Crisis/CARA Survey
2002
Report on the Crisis in the Catholic Church in the United States
(2004)
The Nature
and Scope of the Problem of Sexual Abuse of Minors
by Catholic Priests and Deacons in the United States
(2004)
Supplementary Report (2007)
Causes and Context of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic
Priests (2011)
What the Vatican Is Doing
Vatican Resource Page and Links
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What You Can Do If You
Are Confused,
Troubled or Angry
Many
Catholics are confused, troubled, angry or disillusioned by
the sexual abuse problem in the Catholic Church. For many it has caused a crisis
of faith; for others, a crisis of confidence in the Church and
Church leaders.
Here is a list of suggestions for what individuals can do to
cope with personal or spiritual concerns raised by the sexual
abuse problem in the Church:
• Be honest about your own
feelings. Denying your feelings will only
prolong the pain and delay healing.
• Pray and/or fast for healing for victims of sexual abuse and
their families.
• If you personally know a victim, reach out to them with loving
kindness so
that they will experience God's loving kindness through you.
• Remind yourself that faith is based on Jesus Christ, not the
credibility or
deeds of fallible human beings. No human person or scandal should
be
able to separate us from the love of God encountered in the Eucharist.
• Take time to reflect more carefully on the teachings of the
Catholic faith,
using the U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults or other good
resources.
This too will help you remember that our faith is based on something --
Someone -- deeper than imperfect human beings.
• Make an effort to become a more authentic and holy person.
Greater
holiness is always the foundation for renewal in the Church.
• Schedule a renewal or retreat day for yourself, and listen
more closely to
God's message of encouragement and consolation.
• Pray for the ability to forgive anyone connected to the sexual
abuse
scandal.
• Pray for the grace to have an increasingly forgiving heart.
• Make an effort to improve attitudes, enhance relationships and
build
community among lay people, religious, priests and bishops.
• Be more attentive and loving to family, friends, and your
local community
of faith.
• Turn to the forms of prayer which are most beneficial to you,
and make a
concrete commitment to a time for daily prayer.
• Reflect on the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
• Reflect regularly on Matthew 16:13-30, and your personal
answer to
Jesus' question: "Who do you say that I am?"
Adapted from
Healing the Body of Christ/Guide for Personal Reflection
published by Renew International
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Prayers for Healing
Click here
for a selection of
prayers for reconciliation and healing.
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Reflections on the Sexual
Abuse Crisis
Click here
for a selection of
observations and reflections designed to help Catholics address
the wide range of emotions and reactions which the abuse scandal
evokes.
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What to do
if your priest is
accused of abuse
Click here
for a list of suggestions prepared by the Survivors Network of those
Abused by Priests.
Created 05.07 • Last Update 06.27.11
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