by Gordon Nary
Gordon: Tell us how you view spirituality
Antonia: Spirituality is about feeling God move through your life. When God is at the forefront, your work, leisure, relationships, and worship, are all motivated by and infused with the Lord.
Gordon: Where did you attend college what degrees did you earn, what was your favorite course, and why was it your favorite?
Antonia: I attended Dartmouth College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government. I also attended Boston College Law School and earned a Juris Doctor. My favorite course in college was a course in the Comparative Literature department, exploring the nexus of literature and music, which are two of my favorite things.
Gordon: Please share with our readers an overview of your work as an attorney.
Antonia: I was an attorney for many years, and during a significant amount of that time I worked in criminal law. It was always my intention to work with crime victims after I became a lawyer, and I was very grateful that my career led me to that work.
Gordon: When and why did you accept a position of Paulist Victim Assistance Coordinator and what are your primary responsibilities?
Antonia: I accepted the position in 2019. I was familiar with the Paulists from my work on a Review Board, whose chair was a Paulist Father, Father John Behnke. I heard that the Paulists had a need to fill the position of Victim Assistance Coordinator, and I knew that the Paulists, from my work with Father Behnke, were as committed to helping victims heal as I was. My primary responsibility is to serve as a liaison to the Paulists when an allegation of sexual abuse is made, to work directly with those who have contacted the Paulists regarding sexual abuse, and to provide support throughout the process.
Gordon: What are some of the factors contributing to child sexual abuse by the Catholic clergy?
Antonia: I cannot begin to imagine or describe the complexity of factors and failings that lead anyone to contribute to the blight of child sexual abuse. What I do know is that offering healing for victims is paramount, and that anyone in power, whether it is civil authorities or clerical authorities, must work tirelessly for justice. Justice includes blocking access to children and vulnerable adults from those that are offenders.
Gordon: What are the responsibilities of Bishops to reduce child sexual abuse?
Antonia: The responsibilities of all church leadership, which includes pastors, monsignors, and of course Bishops, is to follow any allegation of abuse with a serious, active response. This response should include transparency, follow through, alerting all civil authorities, and pastoral care, in each and every case. As already mentioned, blocking access to children is part and paramount of that response. In addition, church leadership should seek out long-term treatment centers for offenders and arrange for intensive treatment along with a thorough, ongoing safety plan to ensure the safety of all.
Gordon: What should parents do to prevent child sexual abuse?
Antonia: In my experience, school programs and religious education programs have presented programs on child safety directly to children, and have taught children that if they feel uncomfortable or in danger, they should tell five adults until someone listens. Parents ideally should be the first adult on a child’s list. If they are the second or third or fifth on that list, they should support the child, with all of the other adults on that child’s list, to get healing and justice for that child, and to provide immediate and ongoing safety.
Gordon: Thank you for a great interview.