Service Of Healing For Abuse Victims
By: Import User
Updated: November 16, 2007
Will the power of prayer help heal victims of abuse? The catholic church hopes a prayer service will do some good, but an anti-abuse advocate group has its doubts.
The Catholic church is holding a prayer service of healing this weekend. The service is for victims of abuse. And its open to anyone. But abuse by priests one of the focal points. Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger recently acknowledged he knew of abuse by a now deceased priest. Much of that abuse happened in Jasper, where the prayer service is being held.
David Clohessy, a victim of abuse by a priest turned advocate was recently in Evansville distributing pamplets outside a church. He says often times the church likes to use symbolic gestures like the prayer service as a way of turning the corner, moving on. But Father Ray Brenner says the church is taking action. He says programs and policies have been put in place for priests and parishoners, even background checks on potential clergymen, but Clohessy says thats not enough. He says real reform is needed.
How the church will ultimately rid itself of the issue remains to be seen, but for now church officials are looking to the heavens for help.
The service of healing will be held this sunday at the Saint Joseph Church in Jasper at 1pm central time. It is open to victims, their families, friends and community members both Catholic and non-Catholic.
