Published: April 23, 2008 11:52 am         

Young woman victim of priestly abuse shares tears with apologetic pope

HAVERHILL, Mass. — When 23-year-old Faith Johnston of Haverhill, Mass., looked into the eyes of Pope Benedict XVI last week, she saw sorrow and regret. She also saw tears - and when she tried to speak about being abused by her parish priest, she also cried.



"I had so many things to say but I just burst into tears," Johnston said. "I wanted to tell him, 'Thank you,' but I could not get the words out. My tears spoke louder than words.



"For him, I think it was an eye-opener, which is a good thing. He had tears in his eyes and that says a lot. It tells me that the church is going to make some changes."



Johnston was one of five victims of priestly abuse from the Boston area who met privately with the pope last Thursday during his visit to Washington, D. C. The half-hour session at the residence of the pope's ambassador to Washington was arranged by Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston. It has been described as a defining moment of the pope's trip to the United States.



Johnston said she was only 15 when she was molested by the Rev. Kelvin Iguabita of All Saints Parish in Haverhill. Iguabita, convicted of sexual abuse, is imprisoned in Massachusetts.



Johnston said that each of the victims had a private few minutes with the pope. She said he spoke to her with concern and compassion, much like a loving grandfather who cared about her as an individual.



"He spoke so lovingly about my getting married (in June) and he gave blessing on me and my family," she said. "He said there is hope ... and he'll be praying for me."



Then, Johnston added, the pope handed her an ivory rosary in a box imprinted with the Vatican seal. "For the first time in years I felt proud again to be a Catholic," she said.



Johnston said Cardinal O'Malley presented the pope with a handmade book filled with the names of nearly 1,500 victims of clergy sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Boston. She said the names were written in calligraphy and each appeared in a different design.



"One page was set aside for those who have not come forward," Johnston said. "There were little crosses next to those who've passed away from natural causes or suicide. When the cardinal mentioned this to the Holy Father he looked sad, so sorrowful."



Johnston said the pope apologized for what happened to her and the other victims, and that he vowed to do everything in his power to assure that such a shameful scandal did not happen again in the Catholic Church.



"On one hand I thought to myself, why is he apologizing?" she said. "It's not his fault. I'd like an apology from the one who hurt me."

And that, Johnston said, she has never received.



The Rev. Robert Conole, Johnston's present pastor, said it took a lot of courage for her and the other victims to speak out and meet with the pope. He said he was encouraged by the pope's apology to and empathy for those who were abused by priests.



"If an apology comes from a bishop, that has some merit," Conole said. "But when it's the pope, it's powerful and it's unique. There is only one pope."

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Mike LaBella is a reporter for The Eagle-Tribune of North Andover, Mass. Contact him at mlabella@eagletribune.com.