By Angela Marshall
Calling the church a family, Msgr. Ronald Hayde asked worshippers at St. Agnes Cathedral's 9:15 a.m. Sunday Mass to stay and work toward a better future instead of packing their bags when things get tough. Hayde said that while many horrible things have been said and done, the church family can survive if parishioners are willing to work through the trauma created by the on-going priest sex-abuse scandal.
A letter from Bishop William Murphy, leader of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, apologizing for any abuses suffered by children and teens at the hands of priests and describing new policies, was to be handed out at all Masses this weekend.
During a press conference last week, Murphy announced the establishment of a new Pastoral Intervention team to handle all allegations of abuse, ending the diocese's long-standing policy of turning them over to a panel of priests.
The team will consist of a priest, Fr. Robert Batule; a nun, Sr. Sean Foley; and former Nassau County Police Commissioner Donald Kane. The bishop said Kane will have sole authority when an allegation should be turned over to the District Attorney's office.
Foley is a social worker experienced in psychotherapy.
The diocese's Review Board, which monitors the Pastoral Intervention team to make sure proper action was taken in each allegation, will also see new members. Under the new policy, the board will consist of two psychiatrists, two social workers one of each a non-Catholic parents, a priest and two law-enforcement experts.
Only when I have received a report that the priest is innocent of the charges and I have received the assessment that there is no psychiatric pathology as well as being informed that the priest has been cleared by the Review Board will I consider returning that innocent priest to pastoral ministry, the bishop said.
Murphy said he removed all priests under investigation from any ministry positions. He also ended a policy allowing priests who have responded to therapy to be placed in restricted ministry positions. As a bishop I will not do this. If a priest is not able to care pastorally for children and minors without placing them at risk, then that priest cannot do any kind of pastoral ministry whatsoever. He will not be given any ministry here in this diocese or in any other diocese so long as I am your bishop.
In St. Agnes' weekly bulletin, Msgr. James Kelly, rector of the parish, also apologized to the abuse victims.
The Church is made of many fallible individuals. They are human, fragile and they make mistakes ... I would like to apologize to anyone who has been hurt by the Church or any of its representatives.
Kelly continued, We have to acknowledge our faults and sinfulness and take the necessary steps to avoid the same pitfalls. Now more than ever, we need strong, gentle and good shepherds.
