| Lincoln
Diocese:
Following their Conscience; Following Christ
November 2007, part II
Call
To Action gives thanks for everyone who called or wrote their bishop
regarding Bishop Bruskewitz' failure to protect children in the
Lincoln, Nebraska Diocese.
Rachel
Pokora, President of CTA/Nebraska, and CTA/USA staff went to the
national bishops' meeting last week to deliver the petitions many
of you signed earlier this year. We also went with the intention
to request fraternal correction of Bishop Bruskewitz by his fellow
bishops and to continue to call public awareness to his failures
to protect children from sexual abuse.
While
no bishop had the courage to publicly stand up for the children
in Lincoln, Nebraska, we definitely succeeded in raising awareness
of this campaign both locally and nationally.
Our story was covered across the country from the Baltimore Sun
Newspaper to AP/Nebraska's newswire to the headline story on Lincoln's
local nightly television news.
Thanks
for helping us keep the pressure on Bishop Bruskewitz and for the
small steps of victory that keep this campaign going. Stay tuned
in the coming months for the campaign's next steps! (And feel free
to keep calling your bishop urging him to fraternally correct Bishop
Bruskewitz! See post below).
November 2007, part I
As a result of two press conferences with
CTA/Lincoln members and SNAP, the Survivors Network of Those abused
by Priests, there was widespread public pressure on Bishop Bruskewitz
of the Lincoln Diocese to comply with the U.S. Bishops’ Charter
for the protection of children from sexual abuse.
As a result of the public pressure, the diocese published an article in its diocesan paper revealing what it was—or WAS NOT—doing to protect children. Bishop Bruskewitz admitted that he was not following the bishops’ Charter for the protection of children including not mandating diocese-wide background checks and not implementing “safe environment” programs. The article was the first self-audit he has done and his admission of non-compliance is a step forward in Lincoln’s JustChurch campaign!
Now CTA/Lincoln members need your help to keep the pressure on!
Five years ago your bishop and every other U.S. bishop promised to “fraternally correct” their peers who did not fulfill the measures set forth to protect children. But your bishop has not kept his promise; no bishop has challenged Bishop Bruskewitz.
Call your bishop today and ask him to hold Bishop Bruskewitz accountable to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. Click here for your bishop’s office phone number.
On November 12th, Call To Action will attend the U.S. bishops’ meeting to take your message in-person to the bishops. Please call your bishop today to let him know the Catholics of his diocese support him in challenging Bishop Bruskewitz at the bishops’ November meeting.
Five years after the massive revelations of sexual abuse, there is no excuse for a bishop to be allowed to put children at risk. Please call your bishops right now and tell him to hold Bishop Bruskewitz accountable to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.
June 2007
In
1996, the bishop of Lincoln, Nebraska attempted to excommunicate
the members of CTA in his diocese simply because they had decided
to begin a CTA chapter and organize for justice. The bishop of Lincoln
is the only one in the United States who refuses to allow girls
to be altar servers and the only one who refuses to comply with
the USCCB’s request to turn over files of pedophile priests. Now,
11 years later, the members have received word from the Vatican
regarding their appeal. Contrary to what Bishop Bruskewitz has been
claiming, it turns out that the Vatican has not endorsed
the attempted excommunication.
Although the Vatican does not endorse the unjust actions of Bishop
Bruskewitz, there is still work to be done. Our members in Lincoln
remain steadfast in their faith and their work for justice in their
diocese. CTA members continue to pray and organize to protect the
children of their diocese, to promote equality for women and men,
and to pursue a more just religious community—following the model
of Christ.
In
June, CTA Nebraska members were scheduled to present more than 1,000
letters from Catholics across the country demanding that Bishop
Bruskewitz comply with a national audit for the protection of children
from sexual abuse. The diocese threatened to arrest the CTA members.
In response, members held a peaceful press conference to notify
the public that Bishop Bruskewitz was still refusing to be audited.
When refused access to the diocesan chancery, CTA members said they
would mail the petition letters instead. Click
here to watch the courageous press conference:
To send a note of support or to join their local efforts, contact
Rachel Pokora at 402-465-8662, or PokoraRachel@yahoo.com.
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