Syracuse bishop hopes releasing list on abuse will bring 'peace, healing'

In a Dec. 1 letter to the faithful of the diocese announcing when the names would be released, he said he knows his action "will cause pain for some victims, families of the accused, friends and parishioners," but he added, "I know that we are at a critical juncture in the history of our church."

He explained the list includes "the names of both deceased priests and those living priests who have been removed from all ministry," and emphasized that "there is no priest in active ministry with a credible complaint of child sexual abuse and any allegations received have been decades old."

"It is important to note that this list has been provided to the district attorneys of all counties in the diocese," Cunningham said.

The list can be found at www.syrdio.org and www.thecatholicsun.org, which are, respectively, the websites of the diocese and The Catholic Sun, which is the diocesan newspaper.

"As this holy season of Advent begins, our Catholic faith reminds us that this is a time of preparation, a time to set our minds and hearts toward the coming of Jesus Christ," Cunningham said in his Dec. 1 letter. "For many, the practice of prayerful reflection during this time is often disturbed by the chaos in our own lives and the lives of those around us.

"The four weeks of Advent are meant to help each and every one of us truly experience a season of hope and joyful expectation."

"It is in that spirit that I am compelled to write to you," he continued. "The news over the past few months of the tragic failings of the Catholic Church has been deeply distressing and has caused many to lose faith and trust. It continues to weigh heavily on our hearts.

"Personally for me, as your bishop, I have prayerfully considered what I can do to help rebuild trust and forge a path to restoring and strengthening the faith," he said.

Cunningham acknowledged that many are aware there is "divisiveness in the diocese" over the release of names of those with credible allegations of sexually abusing a minor.

"Over the years, I have explained that there are individuals who have been harmed who wish to have all of the names published and others who have explicitly asked to not have the name of their abuser made public," he explained.

"In order to respect their wishes, the name of an abuser was publicly confirmed only if the victim wished to make it known," he said, but "upon serious reflection and prayer, I have concluded that this practice has become a roadblock to moving our local church forward."

In addition, he said, he believes "it is not fair to my successor whomever he is or whenever he comes, to leave him with this decision."

"Credible" is defined as "an allegation that, based upon the facts of the case, meets one or more of the following thresholds: natural, reasonable, plausible and probable; corroborated with other evidence or another source; or acknowledged/admitted to by the accused." In making this determination, the letter said, "consideration is given to the trustworthiness of the source."

"As we enter Advent," Cunningham said, "let us pray for each other, as we are reminded that our only certainty at this time is the coming of the Lord Jesus."

His letter also outlined the measures the diocese has taken to address abuse.

Since 2002, he said, the Diocese of Syracuse has fully implemented the articles of the "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People," including a "Comprehensive Child and Youth Protection Policy," which applies to all clergy, religious, employees and those volunteers whose ministry puts them in contact with children, young people and vulnerable adults.

The diocese also has a safe environment program, which requires training, education and criminal background checks of clergy, religious, employees and volunteers whose ministry places them in contact with children, which must be renewed every five years. The program also requires prevention and educational programs for children in the Catholic schools and faith formation classes.

As of November of this year, the diocese said, it has credentialed over 42,000 adults and over 15,000 children through the program.

The diocese also has an Office of Victim Assistance and a Diocesan Review Board composed of qualified lay professionals, a priest and member of the religious "to oversee investigations into allegations of clergy sexual abuse of a minor once the district attorney's office has completed its review.

It also operates under a "memorandum of understanding with the district attorneys of the seven counties that make up the diocese -- Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga and Oswego -- that states "all allegations will be reported to the appropriate district attorney before the diocese begins its canonical process."

In February 2018, the Syracuse Diocese initiated the Independent Reconciliation Compensation Program to offer reparation, promote reconciliation and further healing to individuals who, in the past, were sexually abused by members of diocesan clergy.

"The program is nearing its conclusion and a full report will be provided to the people of the diocese," according to Cunningham's letter.