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Frequently asked questions on the judgment against the Diocese of Duluth

What happened, exactly?

The Diocese of Duluth was sued by a man who says that he was abused by Father J. Vincent Fitzgerald, a priest of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, in 1978 at St. Catherine of Siena in Squaw Lake. Fitzgerald was not a priest of the Diocese of Duluth and was not assigned here when the abuse took place. The diocese has no record of ever being informed about the allegations of abuse by the victim’s family or by Fitzgerald’s religious superiors. However, the jury held the diocese partially responsible for the abuse in an $8.1 million judgment. Of that total, 60 percent of it applies to the Diocese of Duluth and 40 percent to the Oblates.

How does the diocese respond to that judgment?

As we said in a statement released to the media following the announcement, the diocese does not dispute the claim of sexual abuse involved in the case. We have great sympathy for the victim, and we support his right and every victim’s right to seek justice. At the same time, it is hard for us to understand being held responsible for a religious order priest’s actions in 1978 that the Diocese of Duluth knew nothing about and could not have prevented. With this in mind, we will be considering all available options in response, including an appeal of the decision.

An appeal is what our attorneys and the insurance company involved here have recommended, but there has been no final decision about it.

That seems like a lot of money. Is that something the diocese can pay?

It is a lot of money. Many people think of the church as a wealthy institution, perhaps because of some beautiful buildings and artwork built by generations past and dedicated to the glory of God, but anyone who has read the financial statements published in The Northern Cross can see that the diocese’s portion of this judgment exceeds the entire annual operating budget of the diocese, which last fiscal year was $3,294,627. There is insurance coverage in this case, and the diocese has some funds in reserve, but with this and other lawsuits pending, it’s still a daunting figure.

Does that mean bankruptcy?

That decision has yet to be made. In addition to the difficult financial calculus, there is also a question of justice. With other victims of clergy sexual abuse pursuing their cases in the courts and a finite pool of resources from which they might be compensated for their suffering, bankruptcy might ensure a more equitable distribution. It is difficult to predict exactly how it would play out, but if bankruptcy is something the diocese has to pursue, more information will be provided at that time.

What would this mean for my parish or school?

Parishes, Catholic schools and other local Catholic entities such as endowments are incorporated separately from the diocese and are likely not affected.

Why does this keep happening? I thought this was all fixed years ago.

It will never be possible to say this problem is entirely “fixed” so long as there is sin and evil in the world, but please keep in mind the context here, which is often missing from news coverage. The overwhelming majority of the cases you are hearing about in the news are cases from decades ago, brought up now because of state legislation that temporarily lifted the statute of limitations on these crimes for civil suits. That doesn’t excuse past failings or make the suffering of victims less, but it’s important to remember we are talking mostly about historical events. Since 1992 — more than two decades ago — this diocese has had safe environment policies in place and followed them. No set of policies can entirely prevent child sexual abuse, but doing our best to prevent these crimes, to assist victims and to ensure justice is done have been high priorities of the diocese for a long time now.

Some people say nothing has changed and that the church is still full of abuse and cover-ups.

The facts are clear. Every clergy member and employee — and every volunteer working with children — at the diocese or a diocesan parish or school is required to periodically undergo certification, which includes a background check and training to prevent child abuse. Under church policy they are all “mandatory reporters” obligated to come forward with any known instance or reasonable suspicion of abuse. They are all themselves subject to a Code of Pastoral Conduct to protect children and vulnerable adults. All children in our schools and parishes also get their own safety training. The diocese cooperates with law enforcement whenever there is an accusation of sexual abuse, as well as notifying parishes so that any other victims can be invited to safely come forward to law enforcement and to caring people in the church trained to listen to them, believe them and assist them. The diocese has voluntarily released the names of clergy who have been accused of sexual misconduct with a minor, again to assist victims in coming forward.

How does this lawsuit affect giving opportunities with the diocese, such as the United Catholic Appeal?

At this point, it is not entirely clear. What we do know is that the diocese still has necessary, day-to-day operating expenses funded significantly by the United Catholic Appeal that support important ministries, such as seminarian education, religious education, youth ministry and Catholic schools. Those ministries continue, and our bishop and the diocese have a record of being responsible stewards of our financial resources.

Is there anything else I can do?

Prayer is a good place to start: Pray for victims of sexual abuse, pray for priests, pray for justice to prevail in these matters and pray for the mission of the church to proclaim the Gospel, especially in this Holy Year of Mercy.

— The Northern Cross

Day of Fasting and Prayer set for Jan. 22 in Diocese of Duluth

A Day of Fasting and Prayer in Reparation for a Culture of Violence and Disrespect of Human Life will be held across the entire diocese Jan. 22.

Initially organized by the Minnesota Catholic Conference, similar events are being held in other dioceses across the state, beginning in early December. The events were partly inspired by a series of undercover sting videos discussing the sale of human body parts from aborted babies by Planned Parenthood officials. However, the day is meant to encompass the full Catholic teaching on a consistent ethic of life.

Jan. 22 was chosen in the Diocese of Duluth because it is the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide.

Details of the day are still coming together, but plans as of this writing are for Bishop Paul Sirba to celebrate the 7 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary. Following the Mass, the diocese plans to have chartered buses bound for the annual March for Life in the Twin Cities later that day. The Cathedral will host eucharistic adoration for the rest of the morning, with Benediction at noon. Pastors will be encouraged to celebrate Mass and host adoration in their parishes for the day’s intentions, as well.

All the faithful are invited to offer their fasting and prayers for the intentions, as well. For the fasting, diocesan officials said people could take the fasting and abstinence rules of Ash Wednesday and Good Friday — no meat, and one normal meal with two smaller meals that don’t add up to a full meal — as a guide. However, unlike those days, fasting on Jan. 22 is entirely voluntary.

Watch for additional details as they become available.

— The Northern Cross

Bishop Paul Sirba: Past abuse of children calls us to point to the mercy of Jesus

Recently, I received a letter from a parent whose son had been abused by a priest some years ago. Healing is still happening.

She wrote: “As a mother of a son abused by a priest, I know the effects of the abuse. However, the ones who have to deal with it publicly are not the ones who did the abusing. I want you to know that I pray for you every day, especially since you have had to deal with the abuse situation the last few weeks.”

Bishop Paul Sirba

Bishop Paul Sirba
Fiat Voluntas Tua

This mother is a wisdom figure for me and for us.

As we begin Advent and look toward Christmas, we prepare our hearts for Jesus’ coming within the context of a Holy Year, the Year of Mercy. Victims and their families have been forced to take on realities for which they did not ask. We are called to help them.

The Christ Child comes, himself perfectly innocent, yet willing to suffer to save us. Jesus’ coming reveals the mystery of redemptive suffering. Jesus, the babe at Bethlehem, was born to die. He took upon himself the iniquity of us all. We didn’t, nor could we ever, pay our own ransom for sin. It is God’s free gift to us. Thank you, Jesus!

God has called us to be the ones to respond to the sin of sexual abuse in our time.

The crime, sadly, is as old as human history. God knows why he has chosen us. It is up to us to point to Jesus and his mercy in order to heal where there has been great hurt and to provide a way forward guided by his grace.

My hope, based on the good work of my predecessors since 1992, is to continue to make our parishes, schools, religious education and youth programs the safest places for our young people to be.

I am happy to tell the story of the thousands of volunteers, teachers, catechists, young people and clergy who have completed our safe environment training and our recent implementation of the Circle of Grace program as the next step in this commitment.

We must always be vigilant, and we are constantly learning and improving at these efforts. This is the work of our lifetime. The church is providing best practices for our society, where the problem of sexual abuse, neglect, human trafficking and violence is only growing worse.

The “look back” legislation in our state and its lifting of the statute of limitations for this crime opens up the entire 125 years of our existence as a diocese to civil litigation. The great majority of the victims are predominantly men and women in their 50s, 60s and 70s today. Their wounds are deep, but please God they will find hope and healing for themselves and their families.

Exploring options

Recent litigation awarded $8.1 million to one victim. While we never contested that the crime happened, we did argue that the negligence in this case fell predominantly with the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, a religious community responsible for the priest, and not with the Diocese of Duluth, as we had no knowledge of the abuse in this case. Our legal team and insurance company are recommending an appeal of the verdict.

Many are wondering what the recent settlement and pending lawsuits could mean for our diocese. We have been transparent with our diocesan financial statements, so you know our annual operating budget is around $3 million. We have insurance and assets, but not in the amounts that this settlement and other pending lawsuits would demand.

We are presently exploring all options in response. I will continue to consult as broadly as possible to make the best decisions for the victims and on behalf of our diocese. You will find supporting articles in this issue of The Northern Cross as we try our best to provide answers to your questions as they arise and to keep you informed. We take our responsibilities as stewards of the funds entrusted to our care most seriously. Know that I remain very grateful of your continued support of your parishes and of our diocese.

Christmas fast approaches.

We are reminded during this holy season of Advent that we are people of hope. God is the Lord of history. Our world needs our example as people of hope living the Joy of the Gospel no matter the challenge we face. When all is said and done, we must never forget that we are loved by the God of mercy. Jesus comes to save us. Come, Lord Jesus!

Bishop Paul D. Sirba is the ninth bishop of Duluth.

Allow the Year of Mercy to open and soften your heart

Before we know it the Year of Mercy will be upon us. “O, happy fault!”

Pope Francis strongly desires that this Extraordinary Holy Year be celebrated in all the dioceses of the world. He says the call is “to gaze even more attentively on mercy so that we may become a more effective sign of the Father’s action” (Misericordiae Vultus, 3). The theme is “Merciful Like the Father,” taken from the Gospel of St. Luke (6:36).

Bishop Paul Sirba
Bishop Paul Sirba
Fiat Voluntas Tua

Usually Holy Years celebrate anniversaries of some kind, but this is the first one to celebrate an attribute of God — his mercy.

Just as Pope Francis will be opening a Door of Mercy on Dec. 8 at St. Peter’s in Rome, so each diocese, on Dec. 13, the third Sunday of Advent, is asked to open a Door of Mercy at its Cathedral. Walking through the door will offer the faithful an opportunity to gain a plenary indulgence and to open the doors of their own hearts to the mercy of God.

Let’s be creative in approaching the Holy Year. I asked our Duluth Area Catholic Schools to consider having a Door of Mercy in their school buildings. What incredible lessons can be taught to our young people about God’s mercy.

At our Presbyteral Council meeting in November, the priests will have an opportunity to discuss other churches in addition to our Cathedral to designate as pilgrim sites. The hope is to extend the opportunity to participate in the Holy Year as widely as possible. We will also discern the work of the “Missionaries of Mercy.” Missionaries are priests invited to give missions and celebrate the Sacrament
of Confession.

Mercy will penetrate so many of the activities and celebrations of the upcoming year. It has been suggested that parishes offer additional times of celebration for the Sacrament of Confession. New books have been written emphasizing the parables of mercy, the saints in mercy and mercy in the teachings of the popes. A hymn has been composed and a prayer written by the Holy Father for the Jubilee Year.

The practice of pilgrimage has a special place in the Holy Year. I am excited to be able to accompany our youth during World Youth Day in Krakow, the home of the Divine Mercy Shrine and the shrines of St. John Paul II and St. Faustina. A number of our priests have planned pilgrimages to the Holy Land, Rome and various Catholic shrines throughout the world. I’m sure some bus tours could take shape and provide opportunities to see local shrines as well.

Our Holy Father, spiritual father that he is, knows that the world needs to encounter the love of God as manifested in his Divine Mercy. Our hearts have become anesthetized, hardened. We need to experience the love of God where we are hurting to soften our hearts again.

May God bless us with his Divine Mercy!

Bishop Paul D. Sirba is the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Duluth.

Diocese of Duluth responds to court decision

The Diocese of Duluth made the following response available to media Nov. 4 regarding a recent court case:

The Diocese of Duluth does not dispute the claim of sexual abuse in the court case decided today. We have great sympathy for the victim, and we support his right and every victim’s right to seek justice. At the same time, it is hard for us to understand being held responsible for a religious order priest’s actions in 1978 that the Diocese of Duluth knew nothing about and could not have prevented. With this in mind, we will be considering all available options in response, including an appeal of today’s decision.

# # #

 

Five to be ordained permanent deacons Nov. 22

Ralph Edward Bakeberg, James Patrick Philbin, Carl Peter Provost, Timothy Dean Richardson and Grant William Toma are set to be ordained to the permanent diaconate by Bishop Paul Sirba at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary in Duluth.

This follows the custom in the diocese of ordaining permanent deacons on the Solemnity of Christ the King.

Deacon candidates

Kyle Eller / The Northern Cross

Ordination day is just weeks away for future permanent deacons, from left, Grant William Toma, Ralph Edward Bakeberg, James Patrick Philbin, Timothy Dean Richardson and Carl Peter Provost. The five will be ordained for the Duluth Diocese Nov. 22 by Bishop Paul Sirba at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary, Duluth.

Bakeberg, 53, a mechanic, hails from All Saints parish in Baxter. He and his wife Patty have two children, Cassandra and Brian.

Philbin, 51, from St. Benedict parish in Duluth, works for a small non-profit that does affordable housing for low-income people. He and his wife Margo have two children, Lucy and Rose.

Provost, 50, from St. Rose in Proctor, worked for United Health Group. He and his wife Holly have four children, Jackie, Krystal, Carl III and Benjamin.

Richardson, 58, from Immaculate Heart Church in Crosby, works as a special education teacher. He and his wife Cynthia McCarthy have two children, Emmett and Liam.

And Grant Toma, 43, of Blessed Sacrament in Hibbing, works as a patrol sergeant for St. Louis County. He and his wife Deborah have four children, Jacob, Joshua, Eleanor and Coraline.

— The Northern Cross

Father Michael Schmitz: What’s the meaning of suffering?

I’ve been hurting a lot lately, not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. It seems like no matter what I do, nothing changes. If God has been trying to teach me a lesson, I think I’ve learned it by this point.

Thank you so much for writing. Before anything else, I need to make one brief note: When a person is in the midst of pain, there are virtually no arguments or formulae or explanations. There is often just the hurt.

Father Michael Schmitz
Father Michael Schmitz
Ask Father Mike

Because of this, I know that my words might sound hollow. Nothing I write here is meant to be dismissive; there is no simple answer to the problem of human suffering. In fact, the Catechism states that there is no element of the Christian story that is not, in part, an answer to the problem of pain.

But there are some things that might be able to help us approach pain, and we all need to learn these things, because all of us will experience pain and suffering. Every one of us will lose everything that we have at some point. If we don’t know why or where God fits into this, not only could we fall into the trap of allowing our pain to drive a wedge between ourselves and God, but we will miss out on the power in the suffering.

One of the first things we need to understand is that God does not directly will suffering. He did not make evil and cannot will evil. In fact, evil is not even considered a “thing.”

This is not a random side point. God only wills the good. Evil is either the absence of a good that God wills or a distortion of a good that God has willed. For example, the physical evil of blindness is not a thing in and of itself, it is the lack of a good thing (sight) and gluttony is the distortion of a good thing (food and eating) that God has willed.

The moment that God created a world outside of himself, he allowed the possibility of evil. Further, the moment that God freely created beings outside of himself who have free will, he allowed for the possibility that those free beings could choose evil. God never directly wills evil, but he allows evil.

I understand if this doesn’t seem to be any better. We still suffer, and evil still happens. What does it matter if God has directly willed it or merely allowed it?

An opportunity opens

God has the ability to bring good out of evil. You already know this. God was able to use the evil of Joseph’s brothers selling him into slavery to bring about the good of saving the people of Israel. God allowed St. Paul to be thrown into jail, but Paul said it offered him the chance to proclaim Jesus (Philippians 1:13).

And it sounds like you know that the Bible has revealed that there are a number of possible reasons why God would allow us to suffer. These reasons are not always present in every suffering. For example, there are times we suffer as a consequence of our decisions. In Bible terms, this is called “reaping what you sow.” I have brought suffering upon myself (or another has brought suffering upon me) due to bad decisions.

Another reason for suffering is that it is a potential remedy. There are times when God allows us to experience the Fall now in order to “wake us up” and draw our attention to him. C.S. Lewis put it this way: “We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

Pain can also bring us wisdom. Suffering can be a teacher. This is one of those things that is revealed in the Bible, but almost all of us have noticed it in people of great wisdom; they have suffered and have allowed their suffering to bring them to a depth and understanding of themselves and the human experience that would have been impossible without it.

It’s your invitation

But what if a person has corrected all they know to correct and has learned all they think they can have learned? To them, and to you, St. Paul writes, “I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake. And in my body I am making up for what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of His Body, the Church” (Colossians 1:21).

This reveals that there is another meaning to suffering. God could have saved the world through a single word, but he didn’t. God saved the world by taking on a human body, living a real life and experiencing real suffering and death. He rose in that body. In doing so, God didn’t take away suffering — he transformed it. God’s willingness to embrace suffering out of love has given suffering a meaning and a power that it did not have. Even more, Jesus has called every person who belongs to him to share in this power. He has invited all who love him to share in his mission.

What this means is that God is on the side of those who suffer. Even further, the New Testament and the story of the church reveals that suffering does not reveal a lack of God’s love.

Father Michael Schmitz is director of youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of Duluth and chaplain of the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Catholics urged to join campaign of prayer, fasting Oct. 16-24

Catholics are urged to join in prayer and fasting Oct. 16-24 for the conversion of people and nations, peace in the world, a renewed culture of life in the United States and spiritual blessing on the Synod of Bishops on the family.

The 23rd International Week of Prayer and Fasting will conclude its nine-day campaign with a eucharistic prayer vigil Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington for a day of prayer, speakers, opportunities for the sacrament of reconciliation and Mass.

Maureen Flynn, chairperson of the International Prayer and Fasting Coalition, said one of the lasting effects of the campaign, which involves thousands of Catholics across the country, is that many parishes that participate in eucharistic adoration or recitation of the rosary often continue to do so after the nine days are over.

The coalition’s website, iwopf.org, has a link to sign up to participate and provides information about the prayer and fasting campaign, suggests prayers and includes a variety of other resources.

Flynn, a member of St. Joseph’s Parish in Herndon, Virginia, said there is a particular urgency for this year’s campaign with the recent exodus of refugees from Syria, terrorism threats around the world, ongoing abortions and the release of a series videos taped undercover showing top Planned Parenthood officials and others discussing the transfer of body parts from aborted babies for research.

She told Catholic News Service that prayer and fasting campaigns use “our most effective weapons” and they will continue to take place each year until a culture of life returns to the United States. She also is optimistic that young people will see that change, noting: “The tide is beginning to turn.”

— Catholic News Service

Our patronal feast

From my youthful years this prayer has held an important place in my spiritual life. … The Rosary has accompanied me in moments of joy and in moments of difficulty. To it I have entrusted any number of concerns; in it I have always found comfort. Twenty-four years ago … scarcely two weeks after my election to the See of Peter, I frankly admitted: “The Rosary is my favourite prayer. A marvellous prayer! Marvellous in its simplicity and its depth ….” — Pope St. John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae

"Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario" by Damián Domingo (1790 -1832)Today is the patronal feast of the Diocese of Duluth, the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, from which our Cathedral gets its name. The liturgical feast was originally called “Our Lady of Victory,” and it was established by Pope St. Pius V in honor of a victory by the Christian naval fleet at Lepanto, which was attributed to the faithful praying the rosary.

How to pray with this feast? Here’s what the Liturgy of the Hours advises: “The celebration of this day invites all to meditate upon the mysteries of Christ, following the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary who was so singularly associated with the incarnation, passion and glorious resurrection of the Son of God.”

In particular, today is a wonderful day to pray the rosary. St. John Paul II, in that same 2002 letter, noted that the rosary is a “compendium of the Gospel,” a path to contemplation, and a training in holiness as we gaze upon Jesus through the eyes of Mary.

He also noted that it is a privileged prayer for the intentions of peace and the family — two intentions that have lost none of their force in the succeeding 13 years. He writes:

A similar need for commitment and prayer arises in relation to another critical contemporary issue: the family, the primary cell of society, increasingly menaced by forces of disintegration on both the ideological and practical planes, so as to make us fear for the future of this fundamental and indispensable institution and, with it, for the future of society as a whole. The revival of the Rosary in Christian families, within the context of a broader pastoral ministry to the family, will be an effective aid to countering the devastating effects of this crisis typical of our age.

Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us!

— Kyle Eller

New program rolls out for safe environment training

With continued emphasis at the local, national and international levels on improving safe environment programs, the diocese’s program to protect children and young people has seen some major upgrades over the summer.

Ernie Stauffenecker, director of safe environment for the Diocese of Duluth, said there are three main components to the changes: a new, more efficient, paperless online way to administrate the program; new child protection training for adults; and a new youth safety training program called Circle of Grace.

Administration

The program is now administered through Safe Environment Solutions software from the Catholic Mutual Group.
It comes with an upgraded background check and streamlined billing to parishes, and it is more user friendly.

“The benefits of the new administrative system are that it’s more efficient, eliminates numerous paper transactions, it is more secure in terms of safeguarding Social Security numbers,” Stauffenecker said.

The system required setting up safe environment coordinators in every parish and school to manage the system, but those coordinators now have a much easier time of it. They have access right online if, for instance, they need to check if a volunteer from another part of the diocese is certified — no phone call to the Pastoral Center needed.

New system for training

The way clergy, employees and volunteers of the church are trained has also been upgraded. In the past, the diocese used a system developed by the Boy Scouts, where the focus was on protecting boys. The new program is inclusive.

“The focus of the new program is to increase the adults’ skills in identifying grooming behaviors,” Stauffenecker said. “That’s really what it does —- pretty powerfully.”
Here too, printing out certificates and mailing them in has been eliminated. The training has a series of three videos and a self-test, all conducted online at the convenience of the user. An additional component on “expected behaviors” for the Code of Pastoral Conduct is also in the works.

Circle of Grace

The third component with major changes is the safety training given to children and young people. “Circle of Grace goes beyond just protection by helping children and young people understand the sacredness of who they are and how to seek help through their relationships with trusted adults,” according to the program’s materials.
In the past, the diocese used a secular program called “Child Lures” that was supplemented with faith-based lessons. This is faith-based from the ground up.

“It’s built around Theology of the Body,” Stauffenecker said. There are age-appropriate lessons for grades K-12.

The program aids young people “to recognize when they are safe or unsafe and to know how to bring their concerns, fears and uncertainties to trusted adults in their lives,” the materials state.

Roll-out

The implementation of the new program has been fairly swift. Stauffenecker said the program started out in mid-May and by September all the parish coordinators had been trained. “They are all in place,” he said.

While there are national concerns and an emphasis by Pope Francis to guard against complacency, everyone here seems to be taking it seriously. “Cooperation of parishes and parish staff has been tremendous,” he said.

Stauffenecker said part of the reason is the two bishops he’s worked with — now-Archbishop Dennis Schnurr and Bishop Paul Sirba, who has called protecting children and young people “the work of our lifetime.”

Stauffenecker said an experienced trainer brought in from outside the diocese told him Bishop Sirba was the first bishop she had ever seen sit through the entire training.

The new program is funded by United Catholic Appeal.

— Kyle Eller / The Northern Cross