WeAreCATHOLICS.com
Our Statement on $2.2 Million Rockford Diocese Settlement
(posted May, 2007)
Two young women who were abused as children by Fr. Mark Campobello recently agreed to a civil settlement with the Rockford Diocese. On May 10, 2007, Kane County Circuit Court Judge Keith Brown signed off on the agreement with includes a $2.2 million payment from the diocese to be split almost evenly between the two victims. Campobello, who was also named in the lawsuits, was issued a default judgment by Judge Brown in 2004.
WeAreCATHOLICS.com is very proud of the two highly courageous young women who bravely came forward with their allegations against Fr. Campobello. The climate within the Catholic Church is certainly not friendly toward those who allege abuse against a priest. There is shock, denial, disbelief, and a deep desire that the accusations are untrue and unfounded. As Francis Cardinal George has admitted, however, more often than not, allegations of sexual abuse made against a priest have turned out to be true.
By coming forward when they did, Jane Doe and Jane Roe (as they were named in the civil lawsuit) helped to keep Campobello from abusing other children. As soon as he was arrested, he was removed from the parish and school of which he was in charge. Since he was taken into custody in 2004, he has been unable to harm another child. These protections may not have been possible without the girls' cooperation.
Unfortunately, many victims and survivors of child sexual abuse are not able to face their abuse until after the statute of limitations has expired on the crime(s) committed upon them, leaving them with little to no recourse to seek truth and justice in their respective cases. States throughout the country are seeking to change their statute of limitations due to the fact that it is the very nature of the abuse inflicted upon children that often forces them to suppress it or store it deep into the recesses of their memory until well into adulthood. Illinois lawmakers are currently considering such action with Senate Bill 1733. If the Catholic Church is truly concerned with the healing of clergy sexual abuse victims, her leaders would wholeheartedly support legislation that allows adults to legally seek recourse and restitution for the traumatic abuse they suffered as children.
We are pleased with the fact that 'Jane Doe' and 'Jane Roe' were able to come to a satisfactory agreement with the Rockford Diocese and that they can now, hopefully, focus on their continued healing and living of their lives. We offer them much gratitude for enduring the legal wrangling long enough to obtain sworn statements in the case as the diocese had been talking "settlement" before any depositions were taken. We also extend to them our heartfelt wishes for a peaceful and pleasant road ahead. Heaven knows they deserve it.
On the other hand, we continue to be disappointed in the Catholic Church, specifically the Rockford Diocese, which continues the practice of hiding documents related to criminal activity, fighting victims in court, and paying out millions of dollars in order to avoid having the truth exposed. Bishop Doran has asked St. Peter parishioners to give him over $200,000 for his annual diocesan appeal. Pastor Jarmoluk has asked parishioners for over $3million for his current capital appeal. Neither has provided parishioners with any effective professional intervention to help parishioners heal form the far-reaching effects of Campobello's crimes. Those who continue writing checks payable to the Church - and those who volunteer to solicit such donations - are supporting these actions, whether they like it or not.
Because there will be no immediate disclosure of many of the facts related to the Campobello case, we encourage visitors to peruse the documents, newspaper articles, and other information found on WeAreCATHOLICS.com. Many of the facts have already been made public. All visitors are encouraged to read the bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. Any parishioners of the Rockford Diocese who are displeased with the continued secrecy , despite promises of openness and transparency, are encouraged to demand the information be released to the public and to withhold contributions to the Church until Bishop Thomas Doran satisfactorily responds.
No child should ever have to experience abuse. When a child is abused, everything should be done to help bring a healing touch to that child and to others affected. Defense lawyers, accountants, and public relations experts are not the answer for a church that preaches compassion. The Catholic Church will never recover from the current scandal until it decides to first BE CHURCH. St. Peter Parish will never heal until experienced, competent professionals from outside this diocese are brought in to assist in undoing the great amount of damage that has been done. Healing in the parish can happen but only if and when the wound that has been ignored for so long is properly addressed.
WeAreCATHOLICS.com