Good Tidings: NO! NAY! NEVER! NEVER REPORT TO THE CHURCH FIRST!

Saturday, March 9, 2019

NO! NAY! NEVER! NEVER REPORT TO THE CHURCH FIRST!

NO! NAY! NEVER! NEVER REPORT TO THE CHURCH FIRST!
THAT IS OUR SUGGESTION AFTER 36 YEARS OF TRYING TO HELP WOMEN.

Today the BostonHerald.com article reported that Cardinal O'Malley suggests abuse victims turn to an anonymous third-party system for reporting sexual abuse by cardinals and bishops!

NEWS FLASH!!! Citizens have a third party to whom criminal activity needs to be reported, and that is the police and legal system. Our experience with women who have been abused, mothers of children of priests who have tried to work within the Church first have found themselves treated unjustly.

PLEASE go to the police and get yourself an attorney and do not depend upon the Church or anyone paid by the Church to attend to you or your needs or concerns. Obviously if you, out of sentiment, or devout fidelity to your Faith, want to inform the Church as well, that is your decision, but take it from the women who have had years of experience, protect yourself (and your child if that applies.

Here is one legal guide published by Attorney Ron Sarno in New Jersey for mothers of the children of priests. You may be in love, but take care of your child's rights...

Protect yourself and if you have the child of a priest, for God's sake protect that child's rights.

Good Tidings

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Our Mission

Good Tidings was founded in 1983 to give support to women and priests who were involved in romantic relationships.

Since its inception some 2,000 persons have contacted us. Some of them merely request information; many more share that they are involved in a clandestine relationship. Most who contact Good Tidings are Roman Catholic. The mandatory nature of celibacy for the Roman Catholic priesthood is an essential element of this issue. This aspect is addressed by several ministries and Church reform groups.

The conflict is not usually one of Faith. We encourage a spiritual resolution to their problem, as well as a psychological and emotional one. Sometimes we feel it necessary to encourage a victimized woman to seek legal redress (for child support, for example) when justice is not possible within her Church.

Clerical sexual misconduct or abuse

Clerical sexual misconduct or abuse is a grave concern of Good Tidings, but not the entire focus of this ministry. This ministry is intended to help individuals reach some solution to the difficulties they face in their relationships which may include guilt, confusion, loneliness, isolation or pain.

We intend to help priests and the women they love to discern before God what their relationship is and should be. This may be a celibate or marital relationship. In speaking to such persons we insist on honesty and integrity, before God and before each other. We usually suggest counseling, and try to put them in touch with professional counselors and experienced spiritual directors. If desired, we also put them in contact with persons who can provide peer support.

Good Tidings, as a name for this group, serves as a reminder that Christ is with us in every situation. Just as the angel announced Good Tidings of great joy that a Child was born Who would bring peace to people of good will, we want to share with you our belief that Christ can bring this same peace to each person who seeks it. May your Christmas be holy and filled with that peace and joy only Christ brings!