Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans has begun a series of group meetings with survivors of clergy sexual abuse, as mandated by a $305m settlement agreement covering about 600 victims. The first session took place recently at a local church office, part of 10 group meetings scheduled over five days from 6 February.
The settlement, approved in December, resolves the archdiocese's six-year federal bankruptcy protection case. It includes non-monetary terms such as these meetings, individual sessions, and apology letters. The archdiocese is one of over 40 Catholic organisations in the US to file for bankruptcy amid the clergy abuse scandal.
Some survivors criticised the tight schedule coinciding with Carnival season and Super Bowl events, but Aymond said he was 'befuddled' by the criticism, noting the meetings were advertised in January and citing urgency due to his pending retirement. He previously spent two days in December hearing abuse victims testify in court.
'I don't think we know how anyone feels,' Aymond said before the first meeting. 'I want to be able to hear that and to be able to personally bring that to prayer.' Survivor Fourroux, who alleged abuse by retired priest Joseph deWater, emphasised the need for listening: 'Nobody listened to the children.'
The first meeting faced logistical issues, including a wrong address posted online. The church agreed not to use a hired facilitator after survivor concerns. The settlement also requires the archdiocese to remove honours for credibly accused clergy, publish survivor stories, and add a 'place of remembrance' at its main office.
