The Sack Cloth Penance Project
The Sack Cloth Penance Patch is a two inch square frayed brown burlap patch with a brown ribbon in the center worn by Catholics to express penance, sorrow and apology for clergy abuse and to let survivors know that we Catholics are praying for them.
The Sack Cloth Penance Patch was designed by Ann Czuba, a parishioner at Madeleine Catholic Church in Portland, Oregon. Ann came to the idea through prayer. Then she wrote to Archbishop Vlazny and got his blessing for her efforts.
“Whenever I read about the people who were abused by our priests, I get the feeling that they think that we don’t care. I think we need to somehow give them a sign that we are sorry for what they have lost, and that we are asking for God’s mercy and forgiveness.”
“In reading the story of Jonah at Nineva, it struck me that the king ordered his whole kingdom to wear sack cloth and ashes as a sign to God that they were sorry for their sins.”
“Just so we, as a church, need to atone for the sins of these priests and to let
the victims know that we care about their pain.”
--Ann Czuba in her letter to Archbishop Vlazny on March 23, 2007
Why: Many survivors of clergy abuse do not feel cared for, supported, or believed by other Catholics. Few survivors have reconciled with the Church. Those who remain in the Church are often silent out of fear of what other Catholics will think about them.
Many survivors may feel that the Sack Cloth Penance Patch is too symbolic. The Penance Patch is not meant to be the answer to all problems suffered by survivors. It is meant to be one step in the process of healing and reconciliation. Compassionate Gathering hopes that the patch will start a conversation within the Catholic Church and between survivors and other Catholics.
“This penance by the Catholic Church for clergy abuse has been a long time coming.”
family member of a survivor
“When I see a person wearing the patch, I see someone who is willing to share the
pain survivors carry and to participate in the healing work of the Church family. I see
someone who is a “safe person”--someone who will not re-traumatize or re-abuse the
survivor.”
Elizabeth Goeke, survivor of clergy abuse and Compassionate Gathering
cofounder
“The Penance Patch represents a call to do penance for myself and for my Franciscan
community for the abuse committed by some of the Friars. It is also a wake up call to
the larger community of the Catholic Church to become aware of the need to pray for
survivors and do penance for the abuse. We ask the Lord to change our hearts to
bring healing and reconciliation between those who feel pain and those who inflicted
pain.”
Fr. Armando Lopez, OFM and pastor of Ascension Catholic Church in
Portland, Oregon
“I think it's a wonderful idea, especially for priests to wear such a symbol -- all year.
Survivors have not heard many words of compassion from priests. Priests still tend to
be defensive and worried more about what the scandal has done to their morale.
Very sad. It would be a small sign that priests haven't forgotten the hurts that their
brothers have inflicted on survivors.”
Msgr. Kenneth Lasch, former pastor St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Mendham,
New Jersey, Voice of the Faithful Priest of Integrity, 2007.
When: We wear this Sack Cloth Penance Patch during Lent because Lent is a spiritual season for making apology and amends to those from whom we are estranged. Some Catholics choose to wear this patch year round.
Where: Madeleine Parish: Ann Czuba gave out more than out 500 Sack Cloth Penance Patches during the 2008 Lenten season.
Holy Redeemer Parish: Dottie Griffin gave out more than 500 Sack Cloth Penance Patches during the 2008 Lenten season.
Ascension Parish: Virginia Jones gave out more than 200 Sack Cloth Penance Patches during the 2008 Lenten season.
St. Andrew’s Parish: Sr. Kathleen Stupfel gave out more than 200 Sack Cloth Penance Patches during the 2008 Lenten Season.
Msgr. Ken Lasch is now introducing the Sack Cloth Penance Patch to Catholics in New Jersey.
How to Get Started
Although the Penance Patches have been supported by compassionate priests
including Fr. E.B. Painter of Madeleine Parish and Fr. Armando Lopez of Ascension
Parish, it is parishioners who have made and advocated for patches in most parishes
where they have been handed out. We will provide you with patches to use as a
model for making patches as well as with Ann Czuba’s letter to Archbishop Vlazny
and Archbishop Vlazny’s reply. You have to approach your pastor and pastoral
council with these materials and your passionate desire to bring healing to all sides of
this painful issue.
Contact:
Ann Czuba, Madeleine Parish
503-288-3812Virginia Jones, Ascension Parish
e-mail: compassion500@aol.com
cell: 503-866-6163Dottie Griffin, Holy Redeemer Parish
503-247-1306