September 13, 2005

Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory

680 West Peachtree Street, NW

Atlanta, Georgia 30308

Dear Archbishop Gregory,

Representing Voice of the Faithful-Atlanta, Dick Higgins, Pam Villacres and I met with you and Chancellor Kathi Stearns five months ago today, on April 13th.  For your convenience, a copy of the presentation we made is enclosed.  We very much appreciated your time, warmth, and attention, and like others in the Archdiocese had high hopes for real progress.  

At our meeting, you told us you planned to establish a truly representative lay Pastoral Council as you had done in Belleville.  Kathi said that the Archdiocesan safe environment program was in the final stages of refining and would be implemented soon.  Kathi called me a few days after the meeting to relay that you would bring the issue of lifting the ban on VOTF to the Priest Council, though it would take a while due to the Council’s full agenda.

A significant amount of time has now elapsed, going on half a year, and we have heard nothing about the above initiatives.  Has anything happened?  Would you kindly update us on these issues?  Progress is diminished if the community is not made aware of it.

Also, Archbishop, since our first goal is to support victims of abuse, we must reiterate that survivors here in Atlanta area continue to tell us they are in need of a support group, with a quality, professional counselor experienced in sexual abuse, in a non-Church venue.  Sue Stubbs has not been offering these services to survivors who have inquired.  It is clear that, as a matter of justice, the Church owes these to survivors, and you and the other bishops publicly committed to them in Dallas over three years ago.   

Furthermore, for the protection of Archdiocesan children, survivors are logically demanding a definitive list of all credibly accused Archdiocesan clergy and employees, the dispositions of their cases, and their present locations.  Finally, the mere production of safe environment videos, without widely publicizing their existence and directing that they be shown to Catholic parents and children throughout the Archdiocese, does not constitute a meaningful safe environment program.

Archbishop, we urge that all these issues be given the priority they require.  The sex abuse scandal will not be “history” in this Archdiocese until they have been resolved.  We are mindful of the axiom that actions speak louder than words.

We are anxious to hear from you.  Be assured of our continued prayers for you, the  Archdiocese and our Church.

For the members of VOTF-Atlanta, your fellow servant of Our Lord,

John Dearie

Chair