Ministry for Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse

Mission:

This Ministry calls the Diocese of Oakland to address with integrity the harsh realities of sexual abuse in pastoral settings.

Survivors of clergy sexual abuse, laypersons and clergy, work together to

• Support and empower survivors in their healing and promote acceptance of survivors
• Educate to transform attitudes and bring community awareness of the issues surrounding clergy sexual abuse 
• Create, sustain and insure implementation of policies designed to prevent abuse, and to hold abusers accountable

Goals:

Support for Survivors

Provide church leaders with the tools to develop support, promote healing and generate empowerment for survivors in the church community.

• Offer counseling and spiritual direction to survivors of clergy abuse and their families.
• Build acceptance for survivors of clergy sexual abuse in the church community. Confirm survivors of clergy abuse are valued members of our community.

Education

Educate clergy, church employees, and the church community around the
realities of clergy sexual abuse.

• Through workshops and presentations bring the community to an awareness of the issues surrounding clergy sexual abuse.
• Provide opportunities for survivors to tell their stories in order to affect attitudes regarding clergy sexual abuse
   

Design and implement procedures

Ensure Church policies of the Diocese of Oakland are designed and implemented to guarantee offenders accept responsibility, and are made accountable for their abuse of power.

• Reporting incidents of clergy sexual abuse will be confidential, conducted with sensitivity, and made as painless to the survivor and their family as possible.
• Periodically review, update and recommend changes in current sexual abuse policies.
• Work to have a survivor of clergy sexual abuse on the Sensitive Issues Board.