"I thought we were all done with this"

The title above was the first thought I had when this story broke on Monday morning, August 4.  But the truth is, we are never "done" with this.

On Monday the news media reported that Bishop David Zubik sent a letter to all parishioners of Our Lady of Peace Parish in Conway, Beaver County, advising them that their pastor, Father John "Jack" Fitzgerald, was being placed on administrative leave immediately.  A person had come forward within the past couple of days and accused Father Fitzgerald of sexual abuse.  According to the diocese, the abuse allegedly occurred in Allegheny and Lawrence counties in the late 1990s.  The diocese followed its policies and immediately reported the allegations to the district attorney's offices in both counties.

The bishop also said that when Father Fitzgerald was informed of the accusation, he "vehemently denied any acts of sexual abuse."  Father Fitzgerald is 66, and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Pittsburgh in 1974.  Prior to this, no other allegation of sexual abuse against Father Fitzgerald had come to the diocese.

Administrative leave means that a priest is moved to a temporary residence, away from his assignment.  He is not allowed to carry out any public priestly ministry,  cannot administer the sacraments, dress in clerical attire, or identify himself as a priest.  According to the bishop, "If a determination is made that Father Fitzgerald did what he is accused of, those restrictions will become permanent.  If it is determined that the allegation is unfounded, all that is possible will be done to restore Father Fitzgerald's reputation and return him to active ministry."

Over his clerical career Fathe Fitzgerald served as a parochial vicar in Braddock, Butler, McCandless, Etna, Swissvale, and Ross.  He was administrator of St. Anthony Parish (now part of Christ the King Parish) in Bessemer, Lawrence County, from 1991 to 1995, when he became fulltime chaplain at Pittsburgh International Airport.  He has been pastor in Conway since 2009.

Some people, hearing this news, might be angry at the media:  Why do they persecute the Catholic Church?  Some might be angry at the alleged victim:  Why didn't he or she come forward sooner?  Why now?  One or two people might say, wrongly:  Well, we know that the bishops and priests are liars, and all of them are perpetrators of the young.

Here are some facts:  In 2002, the United Stated Catholic bishops promulgated "The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People."  They issued a "one strike and you're out" policy.  If a deacon or priest has one credible accusation against him, he will never serve in ministry again, anywhere.  All clerics, seminarians, employees and volunteers undergo training in the protection of children and young people, and undergo background checks.  Every diocese has an audit of its performance by an outside national agency.  Since 2002 over 3,000,000 U.S. Catholic have gone through this training, "Protecting God's Children," and undergone state and F.B.I. background checks.

But the terrible fact is, sexual abuse still continues in our country.  According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 20 boys is a victim of child sexual abuse, usually by someone they know well.  Self-reporting studies show that 20% of adult females and 5-10% of adult males recall a childhood sexual assault or sexual abuse incident.  

The Catholic Church, every religious body, every family, school, sports program and agency which helps children have to constantly be vigilant to protect young people from abuse, and to respond compassionately when abuse is reported.  Preventing child sexual abuse, and reporting it when when know about it, is every adult's responsibility.  If you know any child who has been abused, or anyone who has been harmed by someone who represents the Catholic Church, I urge you to call the diocesan victim assistance hotline at 1-888-808-1235.  Or call the Pennsylvania state abuse hotline at 1-800-932-0313.  

In 2002, the Catholic bishops of the U.S.A. made this promise:

We  pledge most solemnly to one another and to you, God's people, that we will work to our utmost for the protection of children and youth.

We pledge that we will devote to this goal the resources and personnel necessary to accomplish it.

We pledge that we will do our best to ordain to the priesthood and put into position of trust only those who share this commitment to protecting children and youth.

We pledge that we will work toward healing and reconciliation for those sexually abused by clerics.

Each year, as the bishops receive and review the annual audit report on the implementation of the Charter, the bishops renew this pledge.

Let us pray for all victims.  Let us pray for the accused, Father Fitzgerald.  And let us pray for one another, as Bishop Zubik said in his letter to parishioners, so "our words, our deeds and our prayers always reflect the healing love of Jesus."