Archbishop's support for memorial sought

February 2, 2007

The spiritual leader of 400,000 Catholics inWestern Oregon was asked Thursday to support a proposed monument tovictims of priest sex abuse in the state.

Archbishop John Vlazny can't publicly comment about the proposal, said Bud Bunce, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Portland.

Hesaid that's because Vlazny and other church officials remain muzzled bya gag order imposed by a federal judge in connection with a proposedbankruptcy settlement plan for the archdiocese.

Amonument, preferably on the grounds of the Portland archdiocese, wouldhelp victims of sexual abuse heal, said Bill Crane, the leader of theOregon chapter of the Survivors Network of Those Abused By Priests, orSNAP, the nation's largest support group for clergy-molestation victims.

"Moneybrings no healing and no reconciliation," Crane said. "By putting amonument in place, I think it's an everyday remembrance of what hastaken place. We're initiating something that is going to be tangible."

Craneand other monument proponents delivered a letter Thursday to theArchdiocese of Portland, asking Vlazny to allow a memorial to beerected on the grounds of the archdiocese.

Crane said the project would be funded by donations from victims and other donors.

In2003, Crane, who grew up in New Jersey and said he was molested thereby a priest, spearheaded efforts that resulted in the first monument inthe nation in remembrance of clergy sex-abuse victims.

Themonument stands at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mendham, N.J.Carved out of black basalt stone, it weighs 400 pounds and bears aplaque with Jesus' words that anyone who harms a child would be betteroff "to have a millstone hung around his neck" and be "thrown into thedepth of the sea."

In Oregon, proponents envision a similar millstone memorial, Crane said.

Bunce said he did not know when Vlazny might be able to comment about the proposal.

"Wewere asked not to make any comments about any aspect of the bankruptcyproceeding until such time as the plan has been acted upon," Bunce said.

Askedwhat link exists between the bankruptcy settlement plan and theproposed monument, Bunce said, "It's an aspect of a possiblerequirement that could be attached, so we're not able to make anycomments on it."

The $75 million plancalls for the archdiocese to pay off more than 150 priest sex-abuseclaimaints. Insurance companies have agreed to pay nearly $52 millionunder the proposal, with the rest of the money coming from archdioceseassets.

agustafs@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6709