Matt C. Abbott
Priest criticizes Boston archbishop for handling of clergy abuse survivors
By Matt C. Abbott
Father Robert Hoatson, who is suing the New York and Newark archdioceses and the Albany diocese, and who was the second priest to go on record about retiring Cardinal Theodore McCarrick's abuse of power while bishop of Metuchen, has criticized Boston Archbishop Sean O'Malley's latest outreach to survivors of clergy abuse.
In an op-ed submitted to the Boston Globe, Hoatson wrote (slightly edited):
"Dear Cardinal Sean:
"May I please have your undivided attention? I am a priest, survivor of clergy abuse, and advocate for hundreds of clergy abuse survivors. For the past four years, I have traveled once a week from New Jersey to Boston and other parts of Massachusetts to work with those who were seriously damaged by priests and other religious.
"My purpose for writing is to ask you to cancel the nine prayer services planned for parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Boston and to stop sending letters of invitation for these events to survivors. While I applaud your efforts to foster reconciliation and repentance throughout the Archdiocese, I believe you still do not understand how to deal with survivors, their abuse, and our post traumatic stress disorder.
"When you were installed as Archbishop of Boston, you invited some survivors to attend. I accompanied two survivors into Holy Cross Cathedral that day. It took days of discussion and back and forth conferencing to help them reach the decision to set foot in a Catholic church. I prepared them for the possibility that they might not be able to endure being in the cathedral, around hundreds of clerics and regular Catholics, and actually be able to pray. For most survivors, prayer has become a near impossibility, since mere mention of God, the Church, priests, and prayer sets off their trauma once again.
"Since you sent your latest letter to survivors inviting them to what one survivor has termed your 'magical mystery tour' of nine parishes, I have gotten phone call after phone call from survivors whose PTSD has been triggered, who feel betrayed again because you still believe that prayer (and not action) is going to make this crisis go away, and believe that your appearance at these parishes will signal to a Catholic population already in denial that this crisis was never as bad as it seemed.
"Since they received your letter, two of my 'survivor clients' are back drinking, drugging, and thinking of suicide. Their trauma has been successfully triggered, and their shame and guilt from years of abuse by a priest are as raw as ever! I know you didn't mean to do it, but it's time you learned from the rest of us who have knowledge of these things. So, here are a few suggestions:
"Instead of going to parishes where abusers were stationed and praying for repentance and reconciliation, release a list of all Boston perpetrators and their current whereabouts. Survivors would feel much better about that.
"Instead of prayer services of repentance and reconciliation, sit down at your desk and write a million dollar check to Rescue & Recovery International, Inc. By doing so, I can pay the rents of those survivors who cannot afford them; I can give a homeless survivor an apartment; I can pay for the therapy of a survivor who needs substance abuse treatment; and, I can meet the needs of those who are not sure where next week's meals are going to come from.
"Finally, you can hand over to Rescue & Recovery International, Inc. the keys to a property in Boston that is no longer used by the Church. I will turn it into a facility for treatment and support of clergy abuse survivors. Perhaps the Milton property that used to house and hide the pedophiles might be appropriate.
"Then, and only then, will it be possible to reintroduce survivors to prayer, God, and that which was stolen from them by clergy and religious. You're on step ten, we haven't passed step one yet. Listen to us, please!
"Thank you.
"Sincerely,
"(Rev.) Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D.
"Founder and President
"Rescue & Recovery International, Inc."
© Matt C. Abbott
Father Robert Hoatson, who is suing the New York and Newark archdioceses and the Albany diocese, and who was the second priest to go on record about retiring Cardinal Theodore McCarrick's abuse of power while bishop of Metuchen, has criticized Boston Archbishop Sean O'Malley's latest outreach to survivors of clergy abuse.
In an op-ed submitted to the Boston Globe, Hoatson wrote (slightly edited):
"Dear Cardinal Sean:
"May I please have your undivided attention? I am a priest, survivor of clergy abuse, and advocate for hundreds of clergy abuse survivors. For the past four years, I have traveled once a week from New Jersey to Boston and other parts of Massachusetts to work with those who were seriously damaged by priests and other religious.
"My purpose for writing is to ask you to cancel the nine prayer services planned for parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Boston and to stop sending letters of invitation for these events to survivors. While I applaud your efforts to foster reconciliation and repentance throughout the Archdiocese, I believe you still do not understand how to deal with survivors, their abuse, and our post traumatic stress disorder.
"When you were installed as Archbishop of Boston, you invited some survivors to attend. I accompanied two survivors into Holy Cross Cathedral that day. It took days of discussion and back and forth conferencing to help them reach the decision to set foot in a Catholic church. I prepared them for the possibility that they might not be able to endure being in the cathedral, around hundreds of clerics and regular Catholics, and actually be able to pray. For most survivors, prayer has become a near impossibility, since mere mention of God, the Church, priests, and prayer sets off their trauma once again.
"Since you sent your latest letter to survivors inviting them to what one survivor has termed your 'magical mystery tour' of nine parishes, I have gotten phone call after phone call from survivors whose PTSD has been triggered, who feel betrayed again because you still believe that prayer (and not action) is going to make this crisis go away, and believe that your appearance at these parishes will signal to a Catholic population already in denial that this crisis was never as bad as it seemed.
"Since they received your letter, two of my 'survivor clients' are back drinking, drugging, and thinking of suicide. Their trauma has been successfully triggered, and their shame and guilt from years of abuse by a priest are as raw as ever! I know you didn't mean to do it, but it's time you learned from the rest of us who have knowledge of these things. So, here are a few suggestions:
"Instead of going to parishes where abusers were stationed and praying for repentance and reconciliation, release a list of all Boston perpetrators and their current whereabouts. Survivors would feel much better about that.
"Instead of prayer services of repentance and reconciliation, sit down at your desk and write a million dollar check to Rescue & Recovery International, Inc. By doing so, I can pay the rents of those survivors who cannot afford them; I can give a homeless survivor an apartment; I can pay for the therapy of a survivor who needs substance abuse treatment; and, I can meet the needs of those who are not sure where next week's meals are going to come from.
"Finally, you can hand over to Rescue & Recovery International, Inc. the keys to a property in Boston that is no longer used by the Church. I will turn it into a facility for treatment and support of clergy abuse survivors. Perhaps the Milton property that used to house and hide the pedophiles might be appropriate.
"Then, and only then, will it be possible to reintroduce survivors to prayer, God, and that which was stolen from them by clergy and religious. You're on step ten, we haven't passed step one yet. Listen to us, please!
"Thank you.
"Sincerely,
"(Rev.) Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D.
"Founder and President
"Rescue & Recovery International, Inc."
© Matt C. Abbott
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