Fund aids Catholic clergy who have been forced from ministry
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MANCHESTER, N.H. - A group of Roman Catholic priests in the Diocese of
Manchester have formed an aid fund for local clergy who were forced from
ministry over claims they molested children.
The Organization of Concerned Priests, which has been registered as a
non-profit, is asking fellow clerics in the diocese to donate a minimum of
$1,000 each to a "Mercy Fund."
"We began to sympathize with the men involved in the scandal," said the Rev.
Michael Griffin, president of the new group. "We could not imagine how we
could have coped if we were in their shoes."
Bishop John McCormack is aware of the project, but has not endorsed it, said
the Rev. Edward Arsenault, the bishop's delegate for ministerial conduct.
The effort is meant to live out the Christian message of forgiveness and is
not intended to diminish the pain that victims have suffered, Griffin said.
"The whole thing is about being merciful to people," Griffin said.
David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network for those Abused
by Priests, said "forgiveness is fine," but "it would be truly Christian if
these priests would also take tangible steps to help abuse victims, too," by
supporting legal reforms meant to keep children safe.
