Joshua Bennett
In 2002, the Boston Globe's Spotlight team of investigative journalists exposed the widespread sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy, revealing a cover-up where accused priests were systematically removed and allowed to work in other parishes. This was not an isolated incident, as the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) had previously exposed similar scandals, with roots as early as 1952. Despite resistance from the Church and major national publications' disinterest, tenacious journalists like Jason Berry and Tom Fox played a crucial role in bringing these dark secrets to light, raising questions about the management of the institution and the role of mandated reporters in exposing abuse.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for missing the story | The story was about a cover-up and not just about an individual priest with a criminal pathology |
| Reason for story being missed by other publications | Lack of interest in a story about sex crimes and the church |
| Reason for story being picked up by the National Catholic Reporter | Support from the editor of the Times of Acadiana in southern Louisiana |
| Reason for story being missed by the church | Lack of awareness about clergy sex abuse |
| Reason for story being missed by the police | Clergy-penitent privacy |
| Reason for story being missed by the public | Lack of interest in an insider group and listening to outsiders |
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What You'll Learn
The Boston Globe's initial failure to report on Catholic child abuse
In 2002, the Boston Globe’s Spotlight team, a group of five investigative journalists, uncovered the widespread sexual abuse of children by scores of the district’s Catholic clergy. They also revealed a cover-up: priests accused of misconduct were being systematically removed and allowed to work in other parishes. However, it was not the first time that allegations of Catholic child abuse had surfaced.
In 1984, freelance journalist Jason Berry read a local press report alleging that church officials were aware of a cleric's "sexual activities". Outraged, he decided that the real story was being missed. Rejected by major national publications, Berry eventually found support in Linda Matys, then the editor of the Times of Acadiana in southern Louisiana. In 1985, Berry published a series of three articles on the National Catholic Reporter's front page, exposing a dark secret in the Catholic Church that would ultimately expand into an international sexual-abuse crisis.
In the mid-1980s, Fr. Thomas Doyle, a Dominican priest employed as a canonist at the Vatican Embassy in Washington, D.C., received a letter alerting the embassy to allegations against Gauthe. He brought the issue to Archbishop (later Cardinal) Pio Laghi, who was distressed about the issue, and began to investigate. By the end of 1985, every diocesan bishop in the United States was provided a confidential report warning that the sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy constituted an urgent crisis.
Despite these early warnings, it would be almost two decades before the Boston Globe's Spotlight team brought the story to national attention. Phil Saviano, a survivor who was abused by his parish priest from the age of 12, had sent the Globe information on the Boston clergy that reporters originally missed. The team identified 12 priests who they knew had been implicated in child sex abuse but were told to hold their fire and aim for the bigger target: the Catholic church itself.
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Phil Saviano's story was ignored by reporters
Phil Saviano, a survivor of clerical sexual abuse, played a pivotal role in exposing the child sex abuse scandal within the Catholic Church. Saviano, who was abused by his parish priest from the age of 11, had been battling to get his story heard long before the Spotlight team's stories were published. He first attempted to contact The Boston Globe in 1998, three years after settling with the diocese, but was initially rebuffed. However, in 2002, the paper took an interest in his case and published the first of its "Spotlight" team investigations into abuse by Catholic priests and the subsequent cover-up. Saviano's story was featured in the 2015 Oscar-winning film "Spotlight", which depicted the Boston Globe's investigation that revealed how priests molested children and how church leaders covered up the abuse, moving abusive priests from parish to parish.
Saviano's courage to go public and hold abusers and their enablers accountable inspired and strengthened survivors worldwide. He was recognised for his crucial role in the case, with Spotlight reporter Mike Rezendes recommending screenwriter Josh Singer meet with him during the writing process. Saviano provided the writers with valuable insights into the grooming process, some of which made it into the final script.
Despite his pivotal role in exposing the scandal, Saviano was dismissed as a "conspiracy theorist" when he first approached Globe reporters with evidence of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. This reflects a broader trend of elite reporters missing or neglecting stories of abuse within the Catholic Church. It was only after persistent efforts and the intervention of fate—stumbling upon a report of his abuser's arrest—that Saviano's story gained traction and contributed to the broader exposé of abuse and cover-up within the Catholic Church.
Saviano's story and his involvement with the Spotlight team highlight the importance of listening to "outsiders" and questioning insider groups. By sharing his experiences, Saviano helped shed light on the predatory nature of clerical sexual abuse and the long-term grooming process that often precedes it. His contributions extended beyond the film, as he compiled a collection of news reports and interviews pertaining to the scandal on a personal website. Saviano's work influenced the Catholic Church to better protect children and prioritise their safety.
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Jason Berry's 1985 investigation was rejected by national publications
In 2019, Jason Berry published an article in The Atlantic titled "The Media Must Learn From the Covington Catholic Story". The article details how national publications, including The New York Times and CNN, failed to accurately report on an incident involving students from Covington Catholic High School. The incident occurred between Covington Catholic students and Native American activists at the Lincoln Memorial. A viral video emerged, which appeared to show a tense scene between the two groups. However, subsequent videos and investigations revealed a more complex narrative that contradicted the initial portrayal of the Covington Catholic students as aggressors.
Berry's article specifically criticizes the media's handling of the story and argues that journalistic ethics were not upheld. He suggests that the media should have been more cautious in their reporting, especially considering that the subjects of the story were minors.
In his investigation, Berry uncovered additional context that changed the interpretation of the incident. He found that a third group, the Black Hebrew Israelites, was also present and had directed racist insults and fantasies at the Indigenous people. The Covington Catholic students had gathered to see what was happening as they waited for their bus. This information shifted the understanding of the incident and the role of the students.
Despite this new information, national publications were slow to correct their narrative. Berry argues that this botched reporting has damaged the media's authority to report on similar stories in the future. He emphasizes the importance of ethical and thorough journalism, especially when dealing with sensitive issues and private citizens, particularly minors.
By the time a more accurate and complete understanding of the incident emerged, the damage had already been done. This episode highlights the challenges of reporting in the age of social media and the internet, where information spreads rapidly and corrections or updates may not receive the same level of attention as the initial story.
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The Catholic Church's influence on the press
The Catholic Church has had a complex and often contentious relationship with the press. The Church's influence on its followers and its position as a powerful institution have made it a subject of scrutiny and debate in media circles.
One notable example of the Catholic Church's influence on the press is the Boston Globe's investigation into widespread child abuse by Catholic clergy in 2002. The Boston Globe's "Spotlight" team, consisting of five investigative journalists, uncovered the disturbing truth of sexual abuse of children by numerous priests in the district. They also exposed a systematic cover-up where accused priests were quietly removed and allowed to work in other parishes. This incident became the basis for the film "Spotlight", which brought attention to the role of journalism in shedding light on such dark secrets.
However, the road to exposing the truth was not without its challenges. Initially, the story of abuse was met with resistance and indifference by some major publications. Phil Saviano, one of the survivors, faced difficulties in getting his story heard before the Spotlight team's reports were published. Similarly, Jason Berry, a freelance journalist, encountered resistance when he first broke the story of Gilbert "Gil" Gauthe in the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) in 1985. Major national publications rejected his story, and it was only through the support of Linda Matys, then editor of the Times of Acadiana, that the truth began to emerge.
Despite these challenges, the press has played a crucial role in holding the Catholic Church accountable. In addition to the Boston Globe's investigation, which won a Pulitzer Prize, there have been other instances where reporters have exposed abuse and cover-ups within the Church. For example, mandated reporting laws in approximately 28 states require clergy members to report suspected abuse, and failure to do so can result in legal penalties.
In conclusion, the Catholic Church's influence on the press is multifaceted. While the Church's power and reach can create obstacles to transparent reporting, dedicated journalists and independent media outlets have played a pivotal role in exposing wrongdoing and seeking justice for victims.
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The mandated reporting laws that impact churches
Mandated reporting laws impact churches and religious organizations in many states across the U.S. Clergy members and certain church employees are legally required to report abuse. In fact, clergy members are considered mandated reporters in approximately 28 states, including Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, and California, among others. However, some abuse confessions may be protected under clergy-penitent privacy laws.
Churches may have legal requirements to provide mandated reporter training for their employees. This training can help prepare employees for their duties and make it easier for them to identify and report suspected abuse. By understanding the varying requirements for reporting, mandated reporters in churches can effectively protect vulnerable populations against different types of abuse.
Each state has its own mandated reporting requirements, which means the process, location, and timeline for making a report can vary depending on the location of the church. For example, since the adoption of CA AB 506 in January 2022, youth service organizations in California have been mandated to implement child abuse prevention policies, including mandatory reporting training for administrators, employees, and full-time volunteers.
It is important to note that mandated reporters should be aware of the protections provided by the state if a report filed by them is later found to be unsubstantiated or inaccurate. Additionally, each state has its own statutes pertaining to the confidentiality and disclosure requirements of a mandatory reporter's identity.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2002, the Boston Globe uncovered the widespread sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy. The scandal also revealed that priests accused of misconduct were being systematically removed and allowed to work in other parishes.
The Boston Globe was a paper that was "too deferential to the church", navigating a community that was very Catholic and close-knit. The story was also local and specific to Boston, and the internet has since forced media to focus on publishing morsels of information quickly, rather than waiting to publish the full story.
The Catholic Church has been accused of trying to make amends for the scandal rather than focusing on protecting children in the future. The Church was also concerned about the financial damages that could result from the scandal, which was estimated to cost the Church up to $1 billion.
The scandal shook the very foundations of the worldwide Catholic Church and raised questions about the management of the institution. It also impacted the election of popes and sparked a crisis of confidence among billions of Catholics.
The scandal resulted in a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation and increased scrutiny of the relationship between the media and the Catholic Church. It also raised questions about the role of the press in serving the Church and the boundaries of religious journalism.
