If the clergy abuse crisis in our Church makes you feel ashamed, angry and confused, know that the clergy and staff of St. Peter share your feelings. Why should we remain faithful Catholics? We hope these resources will lead us all to healing, forgiveness and strengthening of our Church and our faith in Jesus Christ.
"I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me"
Philippians 4:13
What Can I Do in our Community?
As a parish family we can pray, support, educate and act.
Pray
Offer a day of fasting, abstinence and an hour of adoration for the survivors of abuse.
Pray for Victims of Sexual Abuse
Pray for Angry Catholics
Pray for our Clergy
Support - Share your time and expertise in assisting those who have been victims Catholic Charities
Parish and Diocesan Ministries that assist survivors of abuse.
Educate
Use multiple platforms to educate ourselves on the allegations & how to create change to get a well rounded viewpoint. Learn more about sexual abuse and who are likely to be perpetrators from expert researchers in the field of psychology.
Fr. Don suggested an article by Thomas G. Plante who is the Augustin Cardinal Bea, S.J. University Professor of psychology on the faculty of Santa Clara University and adjunct clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University’s School of Medicine. Search the internet for his article recently published in Psychology Today entitled “Separating Facts about Clergy Abuse from Fiction.”
Separating Facts About Clergy Abuse From Fiction
What has the Catholic Church done to effectively respond to sexual abuse by church personnel?
United States Catholic Conference of Bishops
Virtus - Be an informed parent/family member or become a Diocesan Trainer and help in educating our young people in the signs of abuse.
Clericalism: The culture that enables abuse and insists on hiding it
Act
Write letters to Bishop Gerald Barbarito, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo and the USCCB sharing your appeal for exposure, redress, and transparency.
-
Ask for public statements of true contrition, continue to support victims financially, with counseling, and include some measure of restitution for the trauma that the victims have endured. Actively support changing states’ statute of limitations on reporting of child abuse.
-
Require that all Dioceses and religious communities make an immediate comprehensive public accounting of their knowledge of all abuse claims, if they haven’t already.
-
Create a commission of lay people to investigate the claims of abuse and misconduct against bishops and cardinals.
-
Request that cardinals, bishops and priests make a significant act of public repentance and reparation, such as a day of fast and penance
Diocese of Palm Beach
Bishop Gerald Barbarito
9995 N. Military Trail
P.O. Box 109650
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410-9650
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo
1700 San Jacinto
Houston, TX 77001-0907
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 Fourth Street NE
Washington DC 20017
202-541-3000