The bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh has released a five-point action plan in response to the church sexual abuse scandal.
Bishop David Zubik’s pastoral letter ‘The Church Healing’ was in response to what he heard from both Catholics and non-Catholics during several listening sessions that were held following the 2018 Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report on child sex abuse by Catholic clergy.
The letter goes beyond issues directly related to sexual abuse, addressing accountability and transparency in church governance, spiritual and human formation for clergy and seminarians, and promising additional channels for parishioners to bring their concerns to the bishop.
The five-point plan includes:
- Healing and Enhanced Support for Victims/Survivors, Their Families and Loved Ones
- Greater Financial Transparency
- Increased Accountability
- Ongoing Spiritual and Human Formation for Clergy and Seminarians
- Continued Listening to Seek Truth and Reconciliation
“Victims/survivors and their loved ones have been instrumental in helping me to define these steps. Victims/survivors will continue to shape our diocesan response to assist those who have been abused, to strengthen our efforts to prevent future abuse by any representative of the Church, and to restore whatever is broken in the Body of Christ,” Bishop Zubik wrote.
“The Church Healing” letter was expected prior to the church’s observance of Ash Wednesday.