About 150 gather to try to mend hearts broken by abusive priests

Some want to leave church, others seek change

It was a night of tears, grief, anger, determination and even hope as about 150 people gathered for a listening session for those wanting to express their anguish over revelations of sexual abuse by Catholic priests.

Some on Monday told of themselves or loved ones being abused by priests as well as Protestant clergy and relatives. Others told of being so angry and disillusioned that they can’t set foot in a Catholic church.

Others saw a chance for reforms of the hierarchical Catholic clerical culture that they blamed for the abuse and cover-up.

“In times of chaos, one has the best chance for change,” said one participant, Kathleen Gallagher.

The event at the Kearns Spirituality Center in McCandless was organized by the Association of Pittsburgh Priests, which includes priests and laypeople and is not affiliated with the Diocese of Pittsburgh; Social Justice Seekers; Pax

Christi Pittsburgh; and the Sisters of Divine Providence. The event was titled, “Our Hearts are Broken.”

It was held to help people process their reactions to the Aug. 14 Pennsylvania grand jury report on the history of rampant sexual abuse in Catholic dioceses.

“If our hearts are broken, we need to listen to each other with deep respect and not to try to fix it, not to try to challenge it,” said Lois Campbell, who facilitated the event.

While some were thinking of leaving the church, others echoed one man’s appeal: “We can’t run way. If we run away, if we hide, the church hierarchy will make the decisions.”

Most attendees were older, but a younger adult said her Catholic peers are questioning whether to bring their children for the sacraments of the church.

The event began and ended with prayer for the victims as well as others hurt by the scandal.

One speaker said the problem is rooted in a culture of secrecy in the church that is broader than the abuse of children but has helped create a climate of denial. She said some priests were known to have girlfriends or boyfriends, and the church hasn’t acknowledged that most of its members use artificial birth control despite its teachings against it.

Several speakers said the church would be changed for the better if it ordained married men and women.

Another session will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Thomas More Church in Bethel Park.