"Don't Support Child Abuse" Warns Catholic Lay Group
January 22, 2003
International News Analysis Today Exclusive Report
By Toby Westerman
Copyright 2002 International News Analysis Today
www.inatoday.com
One group of Chicago businessmen is denouncing U.S.
Catholic religious leaders for not implementing promised
reforms regarding clerical child abuse. The group urges
"financial action" on the part of the laity to bring
about a final resolution to the still smoldering abuse
scandal in the American Catholic Church.
"No truth, no money," declared Michael Tario, chairman
of the Ad Hoc Committee for the Prevention of Clergy
Sex Abuse, in an exclusive interview with International
News Analysis Today.com.
Tario's remarks come in advance of the the November
11 U.S. Bishops' conference, and prior to the Christmas
season, when it is estimated that the Church receives
some 60 percent of its donations.
Tario and the Ad Hoc Committee claim little has changed
in the Catholic Church since last summer's series of
lurid reports of clerical child abuse.
Tario holds little hope for the November meeting,
stating that bishops, "know all [about the details of
the clerical abuse scandal] -- but do nothing about
it."
Tario is calling upon all Catholics -- especially those
who have suffered clerical abuse -- to stop giving money
to those who perpetrate or continue to "cover-up" abuse,
and "redirect their funds to worthy individuals and
groups."
"Don't just drop your money in the basket -- you know
part of that money is going to cover-up the problem
of clerical abuse -- send your money where you know
it does some good," Tario declared.
Tario and the Ad Hoc Committee avoid "ideological"
labels when suggesting alternatives to the traditional
collection basket, and groups cited for giving include
Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity, and those seeking
to "tell the truth" about clerical abuse,
including Roman Catholic Faithful, SNAP, Linkup, Helpsavethekids.com,
and others who "speak the truth."
The Ad Hoc Committee for the Prevention of Clergy Sex
Abuse, however, accepts no contributions.
"Money is central….it takes a lot of money" to finance
and protect the clerical abuse within the Church, Tario
stated.
Although a number of priests have gone to prison for
abusive behavior, no bishop has been charged with any
crime, despite repeated reports of personal misconduct
by some bishops. Several news sources have also documented
a widespread pattern of concealment of clerical abuse
in many dioceses.
Tario voiced his frustration with the Archdiocese of
Chicago over the treatment of clerical abuse victims
and their parents, despite purported pledges of reform
by the bishops. "I know of four victims dealing with
the [Archdiocese] board [for child abuse], and they're
still getting the run around," said Tario.
Tario denounced so-called "gag" restraints,
provisions used across the country in child abuse settlements
that prevent the parents of victim children from ever
publicly discussing the incident or settlement.
Should these provisions be violated, the settlement
would be voided, and parents of the abused child would
be open to a lawsuit by attorneys for the diocese.
Tario explained that the true extent of clerical abuse,
and the identities of habitual perpetrators, remain
hidden because of these legal restraints. The Ad Hoc
Committee is seeking to remove all "gag" provisions,
as well as open Archdiocesan files to determine the
identity of perpetrators, and remove them from contact
with children.
"We can't get to the files, and 'gag' agreements are
still in effect," Tario stated. "The bishops were supposed
to end the use of 'gag'agreements, but we know that
these agreements been used since Dallas," Tario stated.
One member of the Ad Hoc Committee for the Prevention
of Clergy Sex Abuse lashed out against what he sees
as a continuing culture of child abuse within most dioceses
in the U.S.
"The bishops are defending an act which would get you
killed in prison," said a committee member who requested
anonymity, referring to the brutal -- and sometimes
deadly -- treatment child abusers encounter in prison.
This committee member is currently assisting individuals
whose children have been assaulted by Archdiocesan clergy,
and he remains highly informed on developments regarding
clerical abuse in Chicago and the U.S.
Until the Ad Hoc Committee's demands are met, Tario
is calling for Catholics to "redirect" their financial
contributions.
Catholics must ask, "Why am I subsidizing this?" Tario
stated, and advises fellow Catholics, "if you give money
to those covering up child abuse, you subsidize the
abuse of children."
Citing the success of German and Polish groups which
have withheld financial assistance to corrupt churchmen,
Tario states that the "redirection of money" is the
"only antidote" to widespread abuse in the American
Catholic Church.
The Ad Hoc Committee for the Prevention of Clergy Sex
Abuse may be reached at 312-542-8005.
Copyright 2003 International News Analysis
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