1974 - Diocese of
Arlington is established
1974 - 2002 - Calls
regarding victim/survivors directed to Arlington Diocese officials for response
2002 - Bishops of
Catholic Church meets in Dallas & approve Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People
- The Charter calls for a commitment to creating a safe environment for children and youth within the Catholic Church.
- The Charter requires each diocese to reach out to victim/survivors of sexual abuse by clergy and their families to provide a program for their healing.
- As a Church, we must apologize for the pain and harm caused by the Church and offer help for the future.
- In the Diocese of Arlington, we decided that our priorities should be prayer, spiritual guidance, emotional healing, and support for those who have been abused and their families.
As bishops, we have acknowledged our mistakes and our roles in that suffering, and we apologize and take responsibility again for too often failing victims and the Catholic people in the past. From the depths of our hearts, we bishops express great sorrow and profound regret for what the Catholic people have endured.
The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People
2002 - Bishop Emeritus
Loverde and Fr. Mark Mealey, O.S.F.S., former Vicar General, establish the Victim
Assistance office with a focus on emotional healing & support for those who
have been abused and their families.
2004 - June 30th
First Mass of Healing for Victim Survivors of Sexual Abuse is held at St.
Thomas More Cathedral.
2005 - Prayer
Services are added to the program as a way to invite those who struggle to
participate in the Mass.
2006 - Support
Groups Evenings begin to meet three times a year
2010 - At the
request of the victim/survivors an annual retreat is added to the program
2017 - Patricia
Mudd retires as Director of the Victim Assistance Office