美国国家公共电台 NPR 'Beyond Anger': Pittsburgh Priest Says Sex Abuse Report 'Shook' Parishioners

 

LAKSHMI SINGH, HOST:

As usual, Catholic priests in Pennsylvania will celebrate Mass this evening and tomorrow. But this will be the first weekend since the release of a grand jury report into sexual abuse in six Roman Catholic dioceses in the state. From WESA in Pittsburgh, Kathleen Davis reports on how one priest plans to talk to his parishioners about the report.

(SOUNDBITE OF OPENING DOOR)

KATHLEEN DAVIS, BYLINE¹: Father Lou Vallone is the priest at St. John of God, a Gothic-style Catholic Church in McKees Rocks, right outside of Pittsburgh.

LOU VALLONE: The church was built in the 1890s. This was a German parish, and so this church is a one-fifth scale model of the pattern of the cathedral in Cologne.

DAVIS: Vallone has been at St. John of God for 15 years, but he's been a priest in Pittsburgh for 45.

VALLONE: Our congregation's an older congregation - aging, dying. We have about 120 funerals a year.

DAVIS: Vallone says the grand jury report has certainly been on the minds of people in his congregation. The investigation² alleges³ 99 former priests in the Pittsburgh diocese have credible⁴ child sexual abuse allegations against them. The report also alleges leaders in the diocese covered up abuse to protect priests.

VALLONE: When the abuse crisis first broke big in the 2000s, people's hearts were broken by the abusers. But people were angry at the people in authority who covered it up. Now it's gone beyond anger, and it is rage.

DAVIS: Valone says these feelings are justified⁵.

VALLONE: It's very disheartening - things that have come out in the report, the things that have been said have really shook people up.

DAVIS: He says he's heard this rage and sadness from not only parishioners but also fellow clergy⁶ members.

VALLONE: And so I am getting much from them. And the battery on my phone wears out about twice a day.

DAVIS: The grand jury investigation named Pittsburgh Bishop⁷ David Zubik as someone who covered up abuse over the years. After the report was released this week, Zubik called upon the church to listen to victims.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

DAVID ZUBIK: We all must take this report to heart. It is a story of people's lives - people who need to be heard, people who need to be healed.

DAVIS: The diocese has requested that all Catholic priests in the Pittsburgh area read a letter at weekend Masses addressing the report. It says, in part, we cannot bury our heads in the sand. There were instances in the past when the church acted in ways that did not respond effectively to victims. The letter also outlines some ways the diocese plans to improve how it addresses and reports abuse, including hiring a former state prosecutor⁸ to review their policies related to child protection.

Father Lou Vallone of St. John of God says he's prepared his own way to address the report. He's added four petitions to the prayers of the faithful, which will be said during Mass. One of them...

VALLONE: For the victims and their families that our true contrition⁹ and purpose of amendment¹⁰ may bring them some solace¹¹ in healing.

DAVIS: Another prays for the abusers. A third is for the clergy in power who covered up crimes that they find humility¹² and justice. And then there's this one.

VALLONE: For all of us as the severely¹³ wounded body of Christ with faith, hope and love. But the gates of hell will not prevail against the Holy Church. But rather we commit with courage to take action so that justice and mercy will somehow meet this crisis.

DAVIS: These prayers will be prayed at every Mass at St. John of God this weekend.

Vallone is retiring in two months. He says the biggest challenge for whoever takes over for him will be figuring out how to draw more young people to the church - a challenge that would exist even without this week's grand jury report.

For NPR News, I'm Kathleen Davis in Pittsburgh.

(SOUNDBITE OF SUFJAN STEVENS' "SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER")

1 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

2 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

3 alleges   

断言，宣称，辩解( allege的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The newspaper article alleges that the mayor is corrupt. 报纸上断言该市长腐败。
• Steven was tardy this morning and alleges that his bus was late. 史提芬今天早上迟到的说词是公车误点了。

4 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

5 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

6 clergy   

n.[总称]牧师，神职人员

参考例句：

• I could heartily wish that more of our country clergy would follow this example.我衷心希望，我国有更多的牧师效法这个榜样。
• All the local clergy attended the ceremony.当地所有的牧师出席了仪式。

7 bishop   

n.主教，（国际象棋）象

参考例句：

• He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
• Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。

8 prosecutor   

n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人

参考例句：

• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
• The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。

9 contrition   

n.悔罪，痛悔

参考例句：

• The next day he'd be full of contrition,weeping and begging forgiveness.第二天，他就会懊悔不已，哭着乞求原谅。
• She forgave him because his contrition was real.她原谅了他是由于他的懊悔是真心的。

10 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

11 solace   

n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和

参考例句：

• They sought solace in religion from the harshness of their everyday lives.他们日常生活很艰难，就在宗教中寻求安慰。
• His acting career took a nosedive and he turned to drink for solace.演艺事业突然一落千丈，他便借酒浇愁。

12 humility   

n.谦逊，谦恭

参考例句：

• Humility often gains more than pride.谦逊往往比骄傲收益更多。
• His voice was still soft and filled with specious humility.他的声音还是那么温和，甚至有点谦卑。

13 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。