Catholic group wants Seattle Archdiocese to open its secret files on clergy sex abuse

Last week, Heal Our Church, a group of Seattle Catholics delivered a letter to the Seattle Archdiocese, calling for an independent review of all files related to its sexual abuse scandal.

The Seattle Archdiocese posted an online response to the group's concerns this week. Archbishop Paul D. Entienne wrote that he wished the group would have given him time to review their letter before going public. He says he shares their concerns.

KUOW's Kim Malcolm spoke with Colleen Kinerk, founding member of Heal Our Church (Listen to the interview by clicking on the play button above). She says that the church has files on sexual abuse cases in the Seattle area, but it has not made those files public. They are calling for transparency.

Kinerk argues that "the church has been given multiple opportunities to do the right thing, and it’s always been too little, too late.”

Heal Our Church wants the Archdiocese to provide an independent group full access to the church’s files. She calls is a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This group would include a survivor of abuse, a member of the church such as a priest or nun, a mental health professional, and someone with “forensic ability,” she said.

Most importantly, she argues that the process should be led by lay members of the church and that privacy of victims should be honored. She says they need this action for the healing process.

“We know that there has been such a volume of persons who have been harmed directly, we call them survivors of abuse, we know that even their knowledge is limited about what happened to them and why," Kinerk said. "It’s because this abuse was facilitated both by a culture in the church called ‘clericalism’ which is really governance from on high down … and a clinging to secrecy."

“If we are seeking, as a church, forgiveness and atonement, then there has to be complete truth and transparency," she said. "And if the story, the how and why, remains hidden in those archives, then we are missing an essential piece. You cannot seek forgiveness, and you can’t atone for a wrong unless you are prepared to tell the entire truth of what happened and why.”

In his letter, Etienne responds that "many of the requests in today's media stories are misinformed." He further notes that the church has a "highly qualified Review Board composed primarily of lay experts." That board already conducted an independent review of clergy files in 2015. In 2016, the church released a list of credibly accused clergy members.