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CNN Live Today

Interview With Bishop Joseph Vasquez

Aired June 13, 2002 - 14:06   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now on to Dallas, where a public mea culpa from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is being followed by public testimony from victims of abusive priests.

CNN's Ed Lavandera joins us now with what may be an unprecedented display of openness on a topic so long kept in the shadows -- hi there, Ed.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Fredricka. Well, clearly the bishops that are here gathered in downtown Dallas understand that they are under an intense spotlight, not only here in the U.S., but across the world. As the bishops, 285 bishops gathered here at this U.S. Bishops Conference, as they are working out the details of a sexual abuse policy. The morning session, the first open forum that the officials got together this morning has just wrapped up with a prayer.

It also opened up with the remarks from Bishop Gregory, who was very candid, offering his apology to victims of sexual abuse, and also the Catholic laity in the U.S., and essentially saying that it is time for the bishops here to confess to what they have done wrong in the past, and that they have to work to make things better quickly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BISHOP WILTON GREGORY, PRES., USCCB: How can we bishops dare to look you parents in the eye and tell you that your children are your greatest treasure, if we do not also treasure and love and protect them? I promise you this. Following the example of the Lord, Jesus, today we bishops recommit ourselves to placing the protection of your children first. And I am confident that the work we will do together over the next few days here in Dallas and every day thereafter will confirm that promise with solid action to provide for the safety of your children in the church.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: Now, there are two groups of sexual abuse victims that are here meeting with the bishops. A small group of them got to meet with a small group of bishops yesterday, and after that meeting one of the bishops said that it was a truly emotional moment. And that when the full group of bishops were to hear from these people that it would truly be an emotional moment for them. And they got that opportunity this morning, four victims speaking directly to the entire conference. And for them, especially, a very difficult moment as they relived the pain that they have endured over the last two or three decades and for each individual story. But clearly, they want their voices heard and they hope that in the end, their stories will influence greatly what happens here over the next two days.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CRAIG MARTIN, SEX ABUSE VICTIM: A child who is abused is put in a frightening and confusing situation. They may have never heard of anything like this happening. Nobody has told them that it's right, and nobody has told them that it's wrong. Everybody may like and respect the person who is doing these things. John remembers the motel that night with the priest, but hardly anything else. John has no idea how he got home. It is only 35 years later that John is starting to remember what happened that horrible night.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: Well, now that the attention turns to the sexual abuse policy, basically what will happen over the next couple of days is that the bishops will debate and talk about the several fine points. There are dozens of amendments that perhaps need to be added to rough sketch of a policy that is already in place. Now, what happens with that could change a lot over the course of the next 24 to 48 hours. But tomorrow, on Friday afternoon, the bishops are expected to vote on a final policy. So that outcome, of course, of high attention here in Dallas -- Fredricka, back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right. To say the very least. Thank you very much, Ed Lavandera from Dallas.

Now, joining his colleagues in Dallas this week is an auxiliary bishop from the diocese of Houston and Galveston. At 44, the Most Reverend Joseph Vasquez also happens to be among the youngest bishops around, and with four months on the job, he is certainly one of the newest now.

Bishop Vasquez, thank you very much for joining us now. We have been hearing very emotional and tearful testimony from at least four of victims who talk about their experiences and the past abuses carried out by the hands of priest. Did you see in the faces or the reaction of the bishops there at the conference, their anguish in listening to this very graphic and very shocking testimony?

BISHOP JOSEPH VASQUEZ, GALVESTON-HOUSTON DIOCESE: I think so. I think the bishops showed a genuine concern. Listening to the stories was anguishing, was heart wrenching for me, listening to the pain that priests who sexually abused these men and the one woman who was there. The pain that they went through was tremendous. The effects lingered long after the sexual abuse had taken place, years into their future lives.

And so I think it was very good for us as bishops to listen to their pain, to listen to the hurt that has been caused by priests. I think it's very necessary for us to listen to victims of sexual abuse by clergy.

WHITFIELD: And you explained how enlightening it was for you and perhaps for so many other bishops in the room there. How do you see that hearing that testimony, that very graphic testimony, will directly make an impact tomorrow when these bishops have to make a vote on a change in policy?

VASQUEZ: I think so. I think for myself that will stay with me. Being my first conference with the brother bishops, I think that that's going to last. That impression that I will remember from those victims that stood up. But hopefully, what we are going to do now is move forward with some kind of a policy that will have some positive effects that will guarantee to the people, not only in the Catholic Church, but to society as well that we are taking this seriously. And that we want to ensure the public and the church that we are going to do everything possible to guarantee some type of protection for the youth and for children that this doesn't happen again.

WHITFIELD: Do you see how that...

VASQUEZ: One abuse of one child...

WHITFIELD: Do you see how that testimony...

VASQUEZ: Yes, go ahead.

WHITFIELD: ... helps the conference inch closer to a zero tolerance policy as applied to current or future offenses, as well as past offenses? Because that seems to be what is at issue when you hear from some of these victims that they feel like there is a slap on the wrist that may come from a policy that is agreed upon tomorrow. Would you be able to say that you think the conference is inching closer to a zero tolerance policy?

VASQUEZ: Well, it seems to be moving in that direction. I can't say for sure that that will be the outcome. I want to listen to the other bishops in their discussion, in our discussion, hear what they have to say, because I think it's going to be also critical. We have listened to the victims. Then we are going to have our discussions as well. But then I think we want to develop something that is going to be definitely positive and bring about that assurance that this will not happen again, and also to address those priests who have committed these crimes, these crimes and sins, how we intend to take care of them as well.

So I think it's essential for us to do that. I would -- it seems to me the indication was from the discussion that that's what the victims are asking of us.

WHITFIELD: All right.

VASQUEZ: They don't want that any priest be involved in ministry...

WHITFIELD: Bishop...

VASQUEZ: ... who has committed these crimes.

WHITFIELD: Bishop Joseph Vasquez, thank you very much for joining us.

VASQUEZ: Thank you very much.

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