Camden Church Paper Targets Abuse

CAMDEN, N.J. May 15, 2002 — The latest edition of a weekly newspaper published by the Diocese of Camden takes on the issue of sexual abuse by clergy in a way few church-run papers have. A 32-page special edition of the Catholic Star Herald was mailed to all 130,000 Roman Catholic households in the southern New Jersey diocese. For most issues of the paper, only about one-fourth as many copies are printed.

The May 10 issue includes for the first time an update on lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by diocesan priests and a copy of the church's 1993 policy on sexual assault by clergy. The issue arrived in mailboxes Friday and Saturday; many of its articles are posted on the newspaper's Web site.

"We're bending over backward to be as transparent as possible," said the Rev. Joseph D. Wallace, the newspaper's executive editor.

The diocese has paid millions of dollars to settle lawsuits by people who contend priests abused them. A pending lawsuit by 18 plaintiffs names 21 priests and other high-ranking church officials, claiming the plaintiffs were sexually assaulted and that church officials conspired to cover it up.

The case has drawn attention to the diocese during a time when Catholic churches in the United States are grappling with several high-profile sex abuse cases.

The newspaper of the Boston archdiocese published an editorial in March saying the Vatican should discuss issues including whether priests should still be required to remain celibate.

Several church-run newspapers around the country have printed policies on how the churches will deal with sexual abuse allegations. The diocesan paper in Kansas City, Kan., broke news about an investigation, and at least one bishop has used the publication to assure parishioners that his diocese had no active priests facing credible allegations of abuse.

But a special edition on the subject by a Catholic publication is rare, Wallace said.

The Catholic Star Herald has numerous stories, including an interview with a 56-year-old man who describes his encounter with a priest who lured him into a motel room and touched him in a 1964 encounter. The priest was a member of the Camden diocese and has since left the priesthood, the newspaper said.

The newspaper also features an interview with Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, articles about how seminarians are taught to remain celibate, information on a task force studying diocese policy on molestation allegations and a telephone hot line number set up for parishioners to report abuse.

Wallace said the difference between what he is doing and what's been done in the national media is that mainstream reporters sometimes don't get the church's reaction.

"Quite often in the secular press, that aspect wasn't emphasized as much," he said.

Wallace said the call for the special issue came from DiMarzio. Only about two issues a year are usually printed, Wallace said.

Catholics who had seen the issue said Monday they were glad it was published.

"It's about time we realized sin is among us," said Connie O'Neil, 81, of Pennsauken. "If it isn't out in the open, we can't correct it."

Bill Lockard, a delivery truck driver who lives in Magnolia, said he wished his church would have addressed the sexual abuse issue years ago.

"We're aware of it now," Lockard said. "Why let us know now? Why waste our money?"

Article continues below

---

advertisement

---

Author: 6-ABC