A Reconciliation and Healing Service between the victims of clergy abuse and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland March 25, 2000

I ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP ADDRESS THE ONGOING INJUSTICE, PAIN AND ALIENATION WHICH CONTINUES IN THE WAKE OF SEXUAL ABUSE, EXPLOITATION, AND HARASSMENT BY PRIESTS, RELIGIOUS, AND OTHER CHURCH LEADERS, AND SO I COMMIT TO:

_____ Wear a yellow ribbon for the month of April, which is National Sexual Abuse Prevention and National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and invite others to do the same.

_____ See that special prayers are offered regularly at my parish for people whose lives have been impacted by sexual abuse, exploitation, or harassment by priests, religious, or other church leaders and for church leaders and congregations as they are called on to respond to report of such abuse.

_____ Make sure that information about S.N.A.P. and other resources for individuals seeking to recover from this type of abuse is prominently posted or readily available within my parish.

_____ Examine my conscience in an ongoing way with an eye to recognizing my own fear, shame, anger, guilt, denial, minimization, or discomfort related to my own vulnerability or sexuality which may lead me to act in ways that are hurtful to myself or others, insulting to people who have been abused, or inappropriately protective of people who have abused others.

_____ Seek out continuing education opportunities that help to sensitize me to the needs of people who have been abused and people who have abused others so that I can respond more compassionately and constructively to individuals in both of these situations.

_____Cultivate in myself a willingness to listen compassionately, respectfully, and patiently to the stories, anger, pain, fears, needs, and concerns of those who have been abused even when it is uncomfortable, and develop a list of possible referrals to places where people who have been abused might find additional assistance.

_____ Live in integrity in relationship to the abuse which has taken place in the church, not hiding from the past, but rejoicing in the light and remembering the abuse, pain and betrayal which have torn apart our common life in hope of healing, so that I might trust with my eyes open and speak the truth in love.

_____ Cultivate a growing, loving, thankful, and joyful commitment to respect my own and other people’s emotional, physical, and sexual boundaries, and encourage others to do the same.

_____ Trust in the transforming power of God’s love that can touch people’s hearts, sensitize their souls, and strengthen their wills to perceive and respond to individuals and communities in the wake of this type of abuse in ways that call forth healing and reconciliation within the life of their community and the individuals within it.

_____ Be available to speak about my experience of being abused in the church and my process of healing from that.

_____ Participate in the ongoing process of dialogue between the Diocese of Oakland and people who have been sexually abused, exploited, or harassed by priests, religious, or other church leaders. Call Sister Barbara Flannery at (510) 267-8334 or Terrie Light at (510) 517-3338 for further information.