Alrighty, so I’m diving into this article about a courthouse scenario that went down. So, we’ve got Bishop John McDermott rolling up to the Federal Building in Burlington for a bankruptcy hearing involving the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington. This whole bankruptcy shindig was triggered by a bunch of claims from survivors of priestly abuse in Vermont.
McDermott, sporting a pectoral cross and all, made his way through security like a boss and settled in for the day’s proceedings. The survivors-turned-creditors were getting ready to spill their guts about the violations they endured at the hands of priests. It was like a confessional, but in a courtroom setting. No cameras allowed, though, so we’re left with just the raw emotions and stories laid out in real-time.
The survivors took turns sharing their harrowing experiences, from childhood assaults to struggles with intimacy and relationships. One dude even mentioned feeling responsible for his own sexuality, which is heavy stuff. The bishop, McDermott, had to sit there and absorb it all, probably feeling pretty awkward. But hey, at least he sent out a heartfelt email afterward, hoping that the hearing brought some healing to the survivors. So, that’s something, I guess.
