For Immediate Release:
Contact: Christian Kendzierski
Tel. 410-547-5378
christian.kendzierski@archbalt.org
(Baltimore, MD) – Archbishop William E. Lori, accompanied by Bishop Adam Parker, Auxiliary Bishop, and Mrs. Jerri Burkhardt, Director of the Archdiocese’s Office of Child & Youth Protection, attended today’s hearing in which victim-survivors of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church offered statements as part of the proceedings associated with the Archdiocese’s filing for Chapter 11 reorganization.
Following the hearing, Archbishop Lori offered the following statement:
“I am deeply grateful to the victim-survivors for their courage today and I am moved by their heartrending experience. To the victim-survivors who long to hear that someone is sorry for the trauma they endured and for its life-altering consequences – I am deeply sorry. I offer my sincerest apology on behalf of the Archdiocese for the terrible harm caused to them by representatives of the Church. What happened to them never should have occurred. No child should ever, ever suffer such harm.
Echoing Judge Harner, I simply say, ‘Thank you,’ and I ask that the focus today be on the courage and bravery of the women and men who offered their statements and to those they represent.
Their stories and those of the victim-survivors I’ve met with privately for decades, emboldens our response and determination to ensure no child in our care is ever again harmed. I am grateful to the Survivors Committee for initiating the request to offer victim-survivors this opportunity today, which I sincerely pray will further assist them in their journey toward healing.”
Today’s hearing was the most recent opportunity for the Archbishop to hear from victims about their abuse, consistent with his longstanding practice of offering a meeting, part of the Church’s pastoral response to those who have courageously reported their abuse. That response also includes comprehensive policies that seek to root out abuse from the life of the Church and support victim-survivors in ways that contribute to their healing.
For more information please visit: https://www.archbalt.org/promise-protect-promote-healing/.
Christian Kendzierski
Executive Director of Communications
Archdiocese of Baltimore
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Office: 410-547-5378