I’m sure most of you are painfully aware of the four part series that appeared this week in the Contra Costa Times and five other Bay Area newspapers about the Diocese of Oakland and sexual abuse by clergy and religious.  The number one reaction I’ve heard all week is Shock and Disappointment, but for a variety of very different reasons.
            There is Shock and Disappointment because the first question is Why Now (why on earth now); while very sad and tragic most of the information (or news!) is already well known, thoroughly reported and a matter of public and legal record and important safeguards, procedures and protocols are now long in place and being carefully followed.
            There is shock and disappointment because it stands as a painful reminder that we must say “never again” and recognize there still are some survivors suffering and quite unable to be named or to step forward.
            There is shock and disappointment at the large number of abusers, and that some of them were personally known and well respected and that in many cases appropriate action was taken too little and too late.
            There is shock and disappointment because some whose innocence has been established or who died with no chance to defend themselves are still included because they were once accused or their name once appeared in a legal brief.
            There is shock and disappointment because listed under the Bishop and Diocese of Oakland are a large number (at least forty) who were never under the authority, responsibility or supervision of the Diocese at any time.
            There is shock and disappointment because it is not made clear that in most (but sadly not all) cases, those accused were referred to competent professionals, whose advice was closely followed, and the professionals were wrong.
            And finally, it is keenly disappointing that there is no mention that despite tragic enough mistakes and failures, the Diocese of Oakland was among the first in the nation, well over ten years ago, to conduct public apology services, to publicly encourage  victims to step forward and to organize support groups for survivors of clergy abuse.
            Still the series represents an opportunity: an opportunity for us to acknowledge the pain still prevalent not only with the survivors but with the church community as a whole.    An opportunity to revisit our commitment to our children and to be vigilant in our decision for “no more secrets” and to say “never again”. . . .an opportunity to admit that we should have been more observant and we could have done more… and an opportunity to recognize those survivors who stepped forward as real heroes and that we must be grateful for their courage.
            We have a lot of healing to do, a lot to guard against, but overall I did not find the series timely, balanced or helpful at all.

Fr. Brian T. Joyce