Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse New York lives in an alternate reality

 A tale of two letters from Bishop Douglas J. Lucia in Syracuse New York.

Bishop Douglas J. Lucia was born on March 17, 1963, the son of Leward and Betty (Pepin) Lucia in Plattsburgh, N.Y.  He and his twin brother and their sister and younger brother grew up in Altona, N.Y. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Wadhams Hall Seminary College in Ogdensburg, N.Y. in May 1985, and a Masters in Divinity from Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora N.Y. in May 1989.

MONETARY SETTLEMENT REACHED IN
DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE BANKRUPTCY CASE:
CHURCH ENTITIES TO PAY SURVIVORS OF ABUSE 💲100 MILLION❗  Settlement letter dated July 29/30, 2023- 

See the PDF link describing the settlement amounts at this site here. https://files.secure.website/wscfus/7384311/31796639/abuse-homily2.pdf

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse and the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors announce today that they have reached a settlement agreement in the chapter 11 case filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Northern District of New York on June 19, 2020. The Diocese and the Committee believe that this settlement is an important first step in forming a chapter 11 plan that will lead to the Diocese's exit from Chapter 11.

The settlement will provide payment in the amount of $100 million dollars to all survivors of sexual abuse for acts perpetrated against them by clergy, religious, lay employees, and volunteers. Although the settlement amount remains subject to a creditor vote and court approval, the dollar figure of the settlement has been accepted by the Official Committee. The Committee is comprised entirely of individuals who themselves survived sexual abuse when they were children by clergy members and employees within the Diocese of Syracuse.

Agreement on a monetary settlement marks a very significant achievement in the case, but important issues remain. The Diocese and the Committee are continuing to discuss the details of child protection protocols that will enhance measures already in place to protect young parishioners, students, and other vulnerable individuals within the Diocese. The discussions on child protection have been productive, collaborative, and extensive and Bishop Lucia has been personally engaged throughout the process. The Diocese and the Committee will soon be in a position to announce an agreement on these enhanced measures that will further strengthen the safe environment program in the Diocese of Syracuse.

"I can tell you as shocking as the settlement amount may seem to leaders of our own parishes and other Catholic entities, more appalling and heart-rending to me is the pain and mistreatment experienced by the survivors of Child and Adult Sexual Abuse at the hands of those they thought they could trust, writes Bishop Douglas J. Lucia in his Letter to the Faithful also issued today. "As the present leader of the Church of Syracuse, I cannot apologize enough for the abuse which happened or for any neglect in dealing with it. This is why the final settlement will include commitments meant to strengthen our safe environment protocols to further ensure the past does not repeat itself."

"This settlement is a significant step forward in the healing process for over 400 victims in this case," according to Dr. Kevin Braney, Denver CO, who serves as Chair of the Official Committee. "I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my fellow survivors and their families, for their endurance as they have patiently awaited this news. The Committee looks forward to our continued collaboration with Bishop Lucia and his leadership team as we work to settle with the Diocese's insurers and enhance the Diocese's child protection protocols."

This settlement between the Committee and the Diocese, parishes, and other entities affiliated with the Diocese does not include a contribution from any of the six insurance companies that provided coverage to the Diocese. The Diocese and the Committee will continue to work in earnest to negotiate with the insurance carriers who are involved in this case with the goal of achieving a global settlement. In Diocesan bankruptcy cases, it is typical for Church insurers to contribute the majority of the global settlement amount paid to survivors of abuse.

Follow up letter to the Diocese dated September 1, 2023:
Bishop Lucia's Statement to the People of the Diocese of Syracuse

It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that the Diocese of Syracuse has been informed by the Cortland County Sheriff's Department that four misdemeanor charges involving a minor have been filed against Father Nathan Brooks in Cortland County Court on August 31, 2023. Following diocesan policy, Father Brooks who serves as the Administrator of the Church of the Nativity at St. Joseph, Lafayette; Immaculate Conception, Pompey; St. Leo, Tully and St. Patrick Mission, Otisco is suspended from all priestly ministry during the investigation of these charges. In keeping with our Memorandum of Understanding with the local County District Attorneys, the diocese has and will continue to fully cooperate with the Cortland County District Attorney’s office.

This is distressing news, most certainly to me, and to all of you. As a Catholic family, we have been on a journey of trying to make amends for the great harm that was caused in the past and now we are faced with this situation. Like me, I can only assume that you have many questions, but we must prayerfully await the conclusion of the investigation. I ask that you join me in praying for all parties involved as well as continuing to be ever vigilant in adhering to our Diocesan Code of Conduct and Safe Environment Protocols. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter, please contact our Diocesan Safe Environment Office at 315. 470.1465 or jbressette@syrdio.org.

You have my commitment to inform you of the outcome of this investigation.  In the Name of Jesus, Bishop Douglas J. Lucia

In my opinion as a practicing Roman Catholic woman, these two letters dated just a few weeks apart demonstrates to me just how far removed the Roman Catholic clergy are from the reality of sexual abuse.  Like they just want to hope and wish it to go away but they all knew what was happening at the time the abuses occured.  

None of the Roman Catholic clergy are "innocent" because they knew and did nothing.