WYNNEWOOD, Pa., Sept. 16. Hundreds of priests in the Philadelphia Archdiocese were summoned by the cardinal on Friday to hear from two adults who as children were molested by priests.
The meeting at a seminary was called as part of an effort by the church to teach members of the clergy about victimsí struggles to rebuild their lives.
Cardinal Justin Rigali said that although many priests had read newspaper accounts of abuse victims, it was important for them to listen to the stories as well.
'It is extremely important for us to hear their stories firsthand so that we may see the human face and hear the human voice,' Cardinal Rigali said.
The victims were joined by a woman whose two sons were abused. All three speakers said that they came from Catholic families and that it was hard for them to report the abuse.
One victim, Victoria Windsor Cubberly, described being raped as a girl by a priest in a rectory office. She was later abused by two other clergymen, she said. The experience left her with suicidal thoughts and nightmares.
'There are few people who want to hear my story; it's just too hard to hear,' Ms. Cubberly said, adding that she ìwanted so badly to be the good little Catholic girl who was supposed to please the priests.'
The other victim, Edward Morris, 44, told the priests the church had lost generations of followers because of crimes committed by members of the clergy.
The mother, known only as Grace, discussed her sons' abuse and the trauma it inflicted on their family.
ìHow did I not know? How did I not see it?î said Grace, who was not required to give her last name and was not fully identified by the archdiocese. ìI will carry these questions until I die.î
She said a priest regularly visited her familyís house to gain her and her husbandís trust. The priest then sought to get closer to the boys. Her oldest son was abused repeatedly in the church priory. Both sons are now adults.
The speakers also challenged the cardinal to offer victims more help, including financial compensation.
After the gathering, a prayer service was held for the priests.
'I think everyone's going to have to absorb the impact of what they just heard,î said Donna Farrell, an archdiocesan spokeswoman.
Victims' advocates said the meeting was a positive effort by the Roman Catholic archdiocese to face its past.
'Weíre hoping that as they witness this, theyíll be able to take some action to actually help survivors,î said Pat Clancy, a member of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
A year ago, a Philadelphia grand jury accused church leaders of covering up decades of abuse by at least 63 priests.
