Attendees: Suzanne Severson, Tim Power, Christina Bumgardner, Colin LaVergne, Jim Whalen, Tom Garvey, Shari Steffen.
Christina opened with a prayer called “Crocus Minded”. Shari arranged refreshments for the committee and the film night which followed.
Suzanne reported the following:
Statute of limitations ‘died’. A cap of 35 years was proposed. As a live bill it could go to the floor.
SSNDs: some of our VOTF members met with SSND leadership along with other survivor members.
Mankato SSNDS together with the Rochester Franciscans have hired an independent review board to deal with abuse allegations. Twin Cities VOTF applauds them and has encourage d them to make this development more widely known. SSND’s want to hold off hosting a Voice of Hope presentation until after their summer sexual abuse training intensive planned for July.
Survivors’ Support Group. Need to get the word out that it exists. Meets bi-monthly on a Saturday. Proposing to do these 12 weeks at a time. Contact Shari if you have interested parties in this type of support and also alert clergy and other pastoral leaders that it exists for survivors.
Priests are talking. Tim Power and Tom Garvey are continuing to meet with priests one-on-one. They say no one has asked them questions like this (how the sexual abuse crisis has affected them and their ministry ) and it is good to talk about these topics. They say there are a lot of ‘elephants in the room’
Numbers of Catholics leaving their parishes as the numbers continue to go down.
Discussed the NATIONAL VOTF published list out of the 5 worst Cardinals who have not adhered to rules passed in 2003 under the charter for the protection of children.
Archbishop Flynn: Suzanne sent the initial draft letter requesting the funding of the Gates Foundation for a comprehensive study on childhood sexual abuse asking AB Flynn for his input and a reminder to respond. We decided Suzanne should call again to try and gain a response and set up some options to meet
Speakers: Shari has called Judge Mertz, head of the National Review Board. He is eager to come speak here. Some discussion if we invite him that survivors would not be happy because they believe the charter is not being followed diligently enough under his leadership. Past Leaders of the Review Board have resigned in frustration over this.
We decided that the council itself will discuss and decide the slate of upcoming speakers. Names were suggested as potential speakers including book authors. Shari will call Mertz and look for possible dates and a possible topic of the pre and post effects of the Pope’s visit. Colin will contact Abbot Klassen again. Suzanne requested that this topic be placed on May’s agenda for final speaker decisions.
Journal of articles on sex abuse that therapists recommend: Suzanne reminded council member of this journal she previously circulated and stated that it publisher has been bought out but the journal is still available for purchase. Shari will look for her copy to bring to the council for circulation and future discussion of whether we could benefit by subscribing.
Our ACCOUNT balance is now APPROXIMATELY $1800. This will cover two speakers’ fees and other expenses for the rest of the year.
Respectfully submitted, Christina Bumgardner