The Time For Silence Is Over
The story would begin, “The parents of a 3-year old are behind bars today.” Or maybe it would say, “A 4-year old is in protective custody.” Or it might even say, “Trial begins today for a mother’s boyfriend.” The news anchor spoke words like these over the radio air waves, and for a time, there were certain people listening who already knew who wrote the story.
My friends and family listening knew that story was going to be mine.
In the early to mid-2000s, I worked as a news anchor/reporter at KLBJ AM in Austin and KTRH AM in Houston, and I was always drawn to the story of the person who was abused. I always wanted to speak up for the child or vulnerable person. It was a joke among some that I was the “child abuse reporter.” But I cared about these stories the most.
I also covered many stories of domestic abuse and sexual assault of adults. I talked to police, child protective services officials, school officials or district attorneys almost every day. I also cared about the people who advocate for children. I think these people also become victims as they deal with painful issues of abuse everyday.
Today I am unhappy to hear media reports that some feel questions of the Church’s handling of sexual abuse by a now-demoted Cardinal and at least 300 priests in Pennsylvania is pure politics. Is it an issue of the left or right that children and adults were repeatedly sexually assaulted with the abuse being known about by superiors? Is that political? Or, is it everyone’s issue?
The former Cardinal, now Archbishop Theodore McCarrick of Washington D.C., was allegedly a predator who forced himself on those he was supposed to serve as a spiritual father. But also, there are allegations that it was known by many, all the way into the Vatican. As a news reporter who advocated for the abused, I have to ask, why didn’t anyone stop such a predator if they knew? Why weren’t the police involved? Why was there a cover up?
The reports say the Archbishop sought out the very first person he baptized and sexually assaulted him. That isn't an issue of the left or the right. That allegation sounds like pure evil.
Former American nuncio Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano alleges in an 11-page letter that Pope Francis knew Archbishop McCarrick was forcing himself on others, but lifted restrictions against him and promoted him. I don’t know if that is true. But Pope Francis’ recent response, “I will not say a single word” is insufficient.
Now that I am out of news, I advocate for the abused in a much more private way - by prayer in the chapel and by advice as a friend. Many of my friends have confided in me that they were sexually abused by someone in their youth. They were told by their abusers, “Don’t tell anyone” or “No one will believe you” or “If you tell, I’ll hurt your family.” And they worry themselves, “If I tell, I won’t be believed” or “If I tell, my family relationships will fall apart” or “If I tell, I will cause problems.” Silence is an enemy, not a friend, and it doesn’t care about your politics.
If a grand jury had not exposed the abuses of at least 300 priests in Pennsylvania, would we have ever been told? If the silence had not been broken in the Boston Diocese by the Boston Globe newspaper in 2002, would we have been told? The superiors in these stories were on both “sides” of church politics. It’s not political. Silence is no longer the right answer.
I have felt greatly healed and consoled by the priests of my diocese and bishops in other dioceses who have spoken bluntly about the abuse and their feelings about it. When light is shined in the darkness, the fear, anger and shame decrease. When we are vulnerable with each other to say, “I’m hurting, and I need your prayers,” healing happens. And I also think that when one is falsely accused and can face his accuser, the truth can be set free.
Making the story of the abuse of vulnerable people and a well-organized cover up into a political issue is to attempt to snuff out the light that is finally starting to shine. People on the left and people on the right want children to be safe. People on the left and people on the right want vulnerable adults safe. People on the left and on the right want those in charge of others not to act as predators. This is a human rights issue.
This is not the time for people to play to their political bases. I dedicated a time in my life to breaking the silence about people’s pain. And I want my Church to do that too. This is the time for light to shine in the darkness. The time for silence is over.