The Archdiocese of Vancouver is following through on the first recommendation in last year’s clergy sexual abuse report by establishing an external office to handle clergy sexual abuse complaints.
The archdiocese has entered into an agreement with Coquitlam-based agency Denis Boyd and Associates, an independent, non-denominational counselling agency, to provide victims of clergy sexual abuse with confidential support. The agency has a seven-day-per-week phone line to receive calls and has pledged to respond within 24 hours or sooner to arrange a time to talk.
Last year’s report said the archdiocese should receive complaints through an intake office “staffed by individuals specifically trained to deal with the complexities of clergy sexual abuse.” Archbishop J. Michael Miller added that the office “should be independent of the Archdiocese and function at ‘arms reach.’ ” Until now, complaints of sexual abuse by clergy were made to archdiocesan personnel.
“We haven’t done anything quite like this, before,” said principal Denis Boyd, noting however that his group has had contracts with major companies and unions to provide counselling for large groups of staff.
His practice includes 22 professionals, some of whom have significant experience in dealing with sexual abuse and trauma. “In this case, we recognize that we’ll be dealing with issues that are very painful,” he said.
Social worker Jennifer Foster will be doing the bulk of the initial discussions and, from her point of view, it’s especially meaningful that the counselling group is independent. “The fact that we’re a separate entity is key,” she said. “I hope it will offer people comfort and confidence, knowing that there’s no bias in the people they’re speaking with. They should be able to feel a lot of trust.”
While the archdiocese is funding the initiative to ensure no cost to the callers, it will not be involved in the delivery of the service.
Boyd and Foster want potential callers to know that anyone who feels hesitant about disclosing what happened to them should understand that they are under no obligation to go any further than they are comfortable with. “They don’t have to make any decision about what they’re going to do before they call,” Boyd said, noting that it’s okay to phone just for a listening ear. “They can even make the call anonymously.”
While Boyd and Associates will offer counselling for victim survivors and their families, they can also help individuals who want to file an official report for investigation.
Boyd expects some people may need to take a number of months before deciding to come forward. “We’re opening up a history of pain,” he said. “People have dealt with their experiences the best way they could, by putting them away somewhere. But the reality is there are new therapeutic tools that will help them navigate through that to a healthier place.”
For her part, Foster emphasizes the value of professional counselling. “Disclosing information like this can overturn the applecart in more ways than people might anticipate. It needs to be safe. There’s a team of people here with many different skills who can be supportive” in ways an archdiocesan official cannot be.
Boyd added, “I want survivors to be optimistic about the changes that could come if they’re able to unload. This process can be very liberating.”
Archbishop Miller stated, “The Archdiocese of Vancouver is firmly committed to eradicating the evil of clergy sexual abuse. We sincerely hope that by taking this step to appoint a third-party independent agency to handle the intake process and provide support, victims will feel more comfortable to come forward and find healing and justice.”
Archbishop Michael Miller received the report’s recommendations and has launched an Implementation Working Group to work out the practical details for completing the required changes.
The number to call to report clergy sexual abuse is 604-363-7338.
