An apology for priest's victim

ST. LOUIS -- The mail brought an apology letter for at least one man sexually abused by a priest.

Tim Fischer received a letter from Archbishop Raymond Burke that had been promised under a December settlement with the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

Fischer, 43, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch the letter he received Saturday was important to him because his abuser, the late Rev. Norman Christian, once told him: " 'Who are they going to believe -- you or a priest?' "

More than 30 victims and parents have been waiting for apology letters from Burke.

Burke's spokesman, Jamie Allman, said that he did not know whether Fischer's letter was the only one sent out Friday but that all the rest would be mailed this week.

Advocates for those sexually abused by clergy told the Post-Dispatch that apology letters are difficult to obtain.

"Typically, what we've seen around the country is that when bishops are forced to, they will part with money," said David Clohessy, executive director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. "But they will fight tooth and nail against any kind of noneconomic concession."