In a statement, Joseph Zwilling and Mercedes Lopez Blanco, the media liaison of the archdiocese said the program was successful.
In addition, Zwiling and Blanco noted that most of the victims expressed gratitude that the Church responded with compassion and understanding.
They said, “All left knowing that the Archdiocese of New York was willing to make a genuine act of reparation.”
Archdiocese’s reconciliation program is a “shrewd strategy”
On the other hand, the rights advocates of some victims criticized the Church for establishing the reconciliation program. They claimed that the archdiocese created the program to prevent litigation.
According to Anne Barret Doyle, the co-director of BishopAccountability.org said the reconciliation program is a “shrewd strategy.”
