Second in a series.

The Office of Victims Assistance Ministry for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is a longer, more formal way of saying what the office is really all about, says Society of the Holy Child Jesus Sister Sheila McNiff, office director.

"We are," she says simply, "the church's advocate for victims of sexual abuse."

Since April 2002, Sister McNiff has headed Victims Assistance Ministry, designed to handle incoming allegations of sexual abuse that is alleged to have been perpetrated by parish or archdiocesan employees, or by other individuals including family members, acquaintances or strangers in the neighborhood.

The goals of the Ministry are to offer victims (and their family members) a safe and compassionate environment for reporting sexual abuse to the church; to receive and gather correct information on the alleged incident; to ensure that the proper civil authorities (especially law enforcement) are notified; and to obtain counseling and therapy for the victims as soon as possible, and for as long as is necessary.

"Our first priority," says Sister McNiff, "is to establish a rapport with the individual so that we can help them feel safe and feel that they can be believed. I tell them I am very sorry for what happened, and I make an appointment as soon as possible to meet with the individual so they can tell their story in full. And in that visit, I make it clear to them several things: that this abuse should never have happened; that it is not their fault; and that I am angry and upset about it, too."

Sister McNiff has worked in the area of sexual abuse counseling for more than 20 years, and has a Masters Degree in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University in Baltimore. Victims Assistance Ministry is in accordance with steps mandated for U.S. dioceses by the U.S. bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

Calls come in on a 24-hour hotline number --- (800) 355-2545 --- and the office is able to obtain necessary resources to assist people in any language. The calls have dropped noticeably in the past two years, says Sister McNiff.

"Those could be incidents at the parish, at the school, at home or in the neighborhood that the family or student may have told them about," she explains.

The Office takes every case seriously, she adds, regardless of how long ago it happened, or where it happened, or who the perpetrator was. Any criminal investigation of the alleged abuse is handled by law enforcement; the Office's role is to help in the healing process.

"We try to establish a relationship of trust with the victim," she says. "That can be very difficult, and understandably so. The greatest loss that comes from this kind of sexual abuse is the loss of trust in God. Because while God is always faithful to us in our journey, it can be hard for a person who has been sexually abused to see that."

That, Sister McNiff continues, is why the archdiocese works to help victims --- whether they have sued the archdiocese or not --- obtain the necessary therapy and, where desired, spiritual direction. "We do whatever we can to help," she says. "There are some parishes and schools that are more affluent and may have counselors on staff, while those less affluent may need more assistance in locating the right people."

Therapy and counseling is a process whose length varies depending on the nature and extent of the abuse --- when it happened, how long ago and by whom.

"The process of therapy takes as long as it takes," she says. "We had one woman who went through therapy for a year and a half, and at the end thanked us for helping her feel like a new person, with energy and purpose in her life. But there are also those who have been in therapy for several years, and will be for some time. All stories are unique."

The Office has also coordinated apology and reconciliation services for victims and their families, and parish listening sessions at which victims tell their stories. The Office is assisted by an advocate group of former victim/survivors who work to help heal others.

"Every case is important to us," says Sister McNiff. "Every individual matters to us. And our outreach efforts will continue."

To download this article, see www.the-tidings.com.

Victims Assistance Ministry

Status:
---Created by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in April 2002 to receive allegations of sexual abuse by diocesan or church personnel, and facilitate the reporting and healing process for victims.
---Headed by Sr. Sheila McNiff, SHCJ; hotline (800) 355-2545.
---Resources can be made available to serve individuals regardless of language.

Goals:
---To offer victims a safe and compassionate environment for reporting sexual abuse to the church.
---To receive and gather correct information on alleged incidents.
---To ensure that the proper civil authorities are notified.
---To obtain counseling and therapy for the victims as soon as possible, and for as long as is necessary.
---To assist victims in reconciling with the Church.

To download this article, see www.the-tidings.com.