Our Commitment

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

The Church is the Body of Christ.  We are called to be His face, His hands, His heart. Today, we are all wounded in some way by the heartbreaking accounts in the Grand Jury report. I understand your shock upon learning about what victims have suffered at the hands of men who were ordained to be the image of Christ. We cannot minimize the harm done.
 
Throughout my ministry as a bishop I have often met with victims of child sexual abuse by clergy to offer my sincere apology in the name of the Church. And so today, to those who have suffered abuse, to the families who have shared their pain, I again sincerely apologize for the harm that you have suffered.
 
But sorrow and apology are not enough without action. The Diocese of Pittsburgh has a long history of reaching out to victims with compassion, to help them recover.

We are all in this together. Sadly, child sexual abuse occurs in every institution, even in the family. On a practical level, every institution – religious or otherwise – must confront this offense. In sharing all of this information with you, I do so to reassure you that we work hard to create environments where your children can be safe. Any effort to protect children is most effective when we work together.
 
Grateful for our belief that “Nothing is Impossible with God,” I am,
 

Your Brother in Christ,

Most Reverend David A. Zubik
Bishop of Pittsburgh

The Kenneth Feinberg Group has completed its administration of the Diocese of Pittsburgh Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program. Since the opening of the fund in 2019, the fund administrators have awarded more than $19 million to victims/survivors in 224 cases that occurred over many decades, with the vast majority prior to 1990.

“My heart continues to grieve for the victims of childhood sexual abuse, especially those abused by clergy, the very people who were ordained to guide them to a life of holiness,” Bishop David Zubik said. “It is my prayer that this compensation will provide support that victims/survivors need on their path toward healing.”

As Bishop Zubik indicated when he announced the creation of the IRCP, no monies were taken from parishes or schools, or the Campaign for the Church Alive, or from the sale of parish assets. Rather, all funds were obtained from sources within the church.  Among them were sale of historical diocesan assets, such as the Saint Joseph Protectory property; insurance reserves and the closure of the downtown pastoral center. To learn more about the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program visit www.PittsburghDioceseIRCP.com.