By Denise Lavoie, Associated Press, 10/01/02

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BOSTON -- Stung by criticism that church officials have done little to help victims of sexual abuse by clergy, the Archdiocese of Boston is pledging to reach out to victims through therapy and private meetings with Cardinal Bernard F. Law.

Since the clergy scandal erupted in Boston nine months ago, victims have repeatedly criticized the archdiocese for not showing compassion or taking steps to bring them back into the church.

On Tuesday, the archdiocese went on the offensive.

In a series of media interviews initiated by the archdiocese, Barbara Thorp, who heads the archdiocese's Office for Healing and Assistance Ministry, outlined steps the archdiocese is taking to try to help victims.

The office was established earlier this year in response to a flood of lawsuits filed over alleged sexual abuse by priests and the revelation that the church shifted priests between parishes instead of removing them from positions where they had access to children.

Victims have complained bitterly about Law, claiming he has appeared indifferent and refused to meet with them.

Thorp, however, said Law has met privately with some victims, although she was unable to provide a number. She said she is in the process of setting up additional meetings.

"He's committed to that pledge ... he wants to extend a personal apology to anyone who would like to meet with him," Thorp said.

Over the last nine months, Law has publicly apologized several times. But many victims' advocates say his apologies have sounded hollow because they came only after intense pressure on the church.

"Many of these people feel that if they have to ask for an apology, then it simply won't be sincere. They've been waiting for years to hear an appropriate apology from Cardinal Law, but they have not," said Mitchell Garabedian, an attorney who represents 86 people who recently settled claims against the archdiocese for $10 million in the case of defrocked priest John Geoghan.

Thorp said that since January, when the sexual abuse scandal first exploded, approximately 150 victims have sought assistance through the healing office.

"When they come in, they're wanting to be able to have some representative of the church be able to hear what happened to them," Thorp said.

Thorp, a social worker who formerly ran the archdiocese's Pro-Life Activities Office, said she and two other staff members listen to victims' stories, and then ask them what they need. For many, it's therapy. For others, it's spiritual or pastoral counseling.

"We're trying to listen as attentively as we can so we're led by not what we assume the person needs, but what they're telling us they need," Thorp said.

The archdiocese will pay for victims to receive therapy from the social worker, psychologist or psychiatrist of their choice, Thorp said.

But Garabedian said his clients have been rebuffed by the archdiocese when they have sought reimbursement for therapy.

"The archdiocese has refused to grant coverage to individuals who need it, refused to renew coverage, refused to provide coverage for desperately needed marital counseling and refused to extend coverage," Garabedian said.

Thorp said the archdiocese is trying to get the word out to victims that the healing office can help. The office is located in a secular setting in Newton, so victims will not feel intimidated by walking into a church building, she said.

The Rev. Christopher Coyne, a spokesman for the archdiocese, said the archdiocese has asked each parish to publish a description of the healing office's services and telephone number in church bulletins this Sunday.

This week, the office is hiring a staff member to deal exclusively with parents of victims who may be learning for the first time that their children were molested years ago by a priest.

Some victims say the efforts are not enough.

"They seem thus far to have been coerced to do whatever it is that they've done," said Bill Gately, a victim advocate for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, a national group.

"I think they need to do a lot more," Gately said