BishopAccountability.org
	Abuse Victims Still Can't Sway Diocese Quad-City Times September 12, 2005 The Diocese of Davenport still struggles when it comes to dealing with its sexual abuse victims. We'd spare the commentary if this was about internal church issues. But this is about pedophiles and their victims in our community. If the Diocese hadn't been complicit in the abuse, these pedophiles would have served jail terms, perhaps been on sex offender registries and never have been reassigned to posts where they committed more crimes. The Diocese agreed to a cash settlement that also included the creation of a victims' board to work directly with top diocese leaders. This month, the three abuse victims appointed to the review board resigned. They claim Bishop Franklin shut down their input and others in the diocese are unwilling to consider their suggestions. Some of the suggestions below appear excessive, including disclosing the home addresses of accused priests or releasing internal, unverifiable diocese records. Both could endanger or denigrate people who haven't admitted or been convicted of allegations. Most of the requests appear reasonable and helpful. More troubling is the Diocese response, also detailed below. The Diocese seems satisfied to comply only with the church's own rules and procedures. That is precisely the approach that enrages victims and got the church so deeply in trouble. Clearly the Davenport Diocese leaders are genuinely sorry and compassionate toward the victims the church helped create. But after all these years, local church leaders remain unable to truly hear them. The church's tone has improved. Its compassion is evident. But it still dismisses victims.