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Victim Outreach & Healing

Bishop Kevin W. Vann "On Victim Assistance Ministry & Safe Environment Training"

Statement from Bishop Kevin W. Vann
La declaración del Obispo Kevin W. Vann

Mission Statement

Outreach to victims of sexual abuse and their family members in the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth is grounded in Jesus' words from Matthew 25: "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40, New American Bible) In response to Jesus' words, a variety of avenues are made available for victims and family members to report their experiences to the Office of Victim Assistance Ministry and to be welcomed, to receive pastoral care, and to access much-needed services. It is the belief of staff serving in the Office of Victim Assistance Ministry that individuals and communities are best served through respectful listening, attention to need, and a prompt response to requests for help and healing.

In keeping with the First Article of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, adopted by the bishops of the United States in 2002 and revised in 2005, the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth, holds to these standards and guidelines:

• Dioceses/eparchies are to reach out to victims/survivors and their families and demonstrate a sincere commitment to their spiritual and emotional well-being. The first obligation of the Church with regard to the victims is for healing and reconciliation.
• Each diocese is to continue its outreach to every person who has been the victim of sexual abuse as a minor by anyone in church service, whether the abuse was recent or occurred many years in the past. This outreach may include provision of counseling, spiritual assistance, support groups, and other social services agreed upon by the victim and the diocese.
• Through pastoral outreach to victims and their families, the diocesan bishop or his representative is to offer to meet with them, to listen with patience and compassion to their experiences and concerns, and to share the "profound sense of solidarity and concern" expressed by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, in his Address to the Cardinals of the United States and Conference Officers (April 23, 2002).

Click on the square buttons for more information:

Reporting Sexual Abuse: What Steps Should I Take?

The Church takes the matter of sexual abuse seriously and urges anyone who has been abused to talk to someone in order to heal. To report an instance of sexual abuse by Church personnel:

• Contact your local law enforcement agency (ask to file a report of abuse)
• Contact Texas Department of Family and Protective Services at 800-252-5400 (follow the directions to file a report with a case worker or file an online report)

If you or someone close to you has been the victim of sexual abuse by a priest, deacon, or anyone representing the Catholic Church, you are encouraged to:

• Contact the Victim Assistance Coordinator, Judy Locke at 817-560-2452, ext. 201 (this is a confidential, password-protected direct line to the Coordinator)
• Leave a message on the Sexual Abuse Hotline at 817-560-2452, ext. 900 (this is a message mailbox; your message will receive a prompt response)
• Call Rev. Msgr. Stephen Berg, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, at 817-560-3300 ext. 102

You may also write to the Victim Assistance Coordinator at:

Judy Locke
Diocese of Fort Worth
800 West Loop 820 South
Fort Worth, Texas 76108

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Victim Assistance Ministry

Victim Assistance Ministry is the response of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth to allegations of clergy sexual abuse. This ministry involves communication with the Victim Assistance Coordinator and/or the Charter Response Coordinator in order to provide support so that victims of sexual abuse and their family members may continue the healing process. Coordination of services for victims and families are part of this outreach, as well as the opportunity to meet with the bishop at any point during the healing process. The following brochure describes the diocese’s outreach and Safe Environment Program in more detail:

Recognize, Respond, Refer Brochure
Reconocer, Responder, Referir Folleto
Nhận Thức Phản Ứng Chuyển Đến

List of Priests with Allegations of Sexual Misconduct

The following is a list of those priests, who have served in the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth since it was established, who had allegations with a semblance of truth made against them regarding sexual misconduct with minors. The list includes priests who were diocesan priests of the Diocese of Fort Worth and those who served within the territorial limits of the Diocese of Fort Worth when the incidents of abuse were alleged to have occurred. None of these priests are currently in active ministry.

List of Priests

List of Priests Who Have Been Laicized

The following is a list of priests who have been laicized after the diocese established that creditable allegations of sexual abuse of a minor existed.

List of Laicized Priests

Helpful Links:

• USCCB: Office of Child and Youth Protection
• Past News Releases Regarding Priests with Allegations of Sexual Misconduct

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