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Worcester Voice
Worcester Voice
Mary T. Jean
16 Fifth Avenue
Leominster, MA 01453
Bishop Robert J. McManus
Dioceses of Worcester
Office of the Bishop
49 Elm Street
Worcester, MA 01609
May 17, 2004
Dear Bishop McManus,
During your homily on Friday when you were
installed as our new bishop, you pledged to help heal the hurt caused by the
sexual abuse scandal and to work for reconciliation. You said all in the church,
whether lay people, priests and bishops, needed to participate.
We present ourselves once again to assist in your
quest to understand the truth of the situation here in our beloved Diocese of
Worcester. We agree with you. We all must do our part to heal the hurt that
remains as a result of the betrayal of trust by some clergy and religious
leaders. We were so pleased to hear the new shepherd who has come among us say
those words. They needed so desperately to be said.
We look to your leadership to direct the needed
repair to our moral leadership of the Christian community. Exposure of the truth
from within and removal of the veil of secrecy will be paramount to your dreams
of following the path of Jesus Christ.
Our goal has always been to bring about healing and
fairness to all who have been caught up in this crisis. Our group represents
those who have been active in our community. With this assembly we can now cross
multiple platforms and reach into venues that were unavailable because of the
sins of our previous bishops who placed concern for self-protection higher than
the innocence of our youth.
WorcesterVoice.com
page 2
Our group includes Mr. David O’Brien, professor at
College of the Holy Cross, Carmen Durso, Esq., a plaintiff attorney, Mr. Daniel
Dick, victim support coordinator for VOTF, Mr. Ed Cronin, member of the Diocesan
Pastoral Council, Mr. David Lewcon, clergy abuse survivor, and Mrs. Mary T.
Jean, clergy abuse advocate.
Our general purpose is to establish communication
with our bishop, seek clarification on these important issues and ultimately to
better assist our community. We are all committed individuals, each with unique
disciplines, with a common goal of advocating in unity for the spiritual and
emotional well-being of all members of our diocese.
We respectfully request a reply from your office
with seven days.
Sincerely,
Mary T. Jean
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