When the crisis of sexual abuse exploded in the Roman Catholic Church in 2002, Louisville priest Joseph Fowler spoke on behalf of victims from the pulpit and encouraged them in private.
When victims sought ways to heal their psychic wounds, he brought them along on a mission trip to help the poor in Nicaragua , where he has worked for many years.
And when victims successfully advocated for tougher laws against sexual abusers, Fowler stood with them last year at the signing ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda, acknowledging that the Catholic Church "has desecrated its sacred trust of our youth" and pledging "as a priest … to offer my hand to all victims."
For his efforts, Fowler has received the Priest of Integrity award from the reformist group Voice of the Faithful, a national organization of Catholics that advocates for victims of sexual abuse by clergy.
"It is begin given to someone who has not been afraid to speak out," said Shannon Whelan of the local Voice of the Faithful chapter, which nominated him. "He has preached on the subject from the very beginning. He didn’t deny, he didn’t want to cover, he flat-out said it's time to make amends."
Fowler at first declined to accept the award, but he agreed at the group's urging.
"We need somebody within the institution to believe in," Whelan said. "He's become that face."
Fowler, 74, said he agreed to accept the honor "to reward the core group that worked so hard on it. If it was just me, I wouldn't worry about it."
He said the church should continue to be vigilant in preventing such a crisis from recurring through reaching out to victims, promoting awareness of sexual abuse in society and introducing "more lay participation and decision-making in the church."
"The main thing is to call attention to it and help the victims and learn from experience," he said.
The Archdiocese of Louisville said in a statement: "Father Fowler has served this Archdiocese for many years as a pastor and advocate for those in need.
"The Archdiocese of Louisville supports efforts to reach out to victims and has made victim assistance and education and prevention a priority in our implementation of the "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People." Many individuals — both clergy and lay — have worked to make this happen, and we salute all who contribute to this important ministry."
State Rep. Jim Wayne, D-Louisville, will introduce Fowler at the national Voice of the Faithful gathering in New York when he receives the award in late October. Wayne last year sponsored House Bill 211, which toughened penalties on sexual abusers and those who fail to report them.
“When victims of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church looked for someone within the church who would hear their concerns and stand up for their efforts to fight sexual abuse, they found a strong and compassionate ally in Father Fowler,” Wayne said in a statement. “It’s a credit to his courage and honesty that he has been chosen for recognition by the Voice of the Faithful.”
Roman Catholic dioceses in Kentucky were among the hardest-hit in the world after the eruption of the crisis of sexual abuse in 2002. That year launched an avalanche of revelations of how bishops had for decades covered up abuse of children by priests and often reassigned molesters to places where they could reoffend.
In Kentucky alone, dioceses and religious orders have paid more than $120 million in settlements and other costs.
Several clerics and parochial-school teachers were convicted, and many more plaintiffs came forward to accuse deceased priests.
At the time, Fowler was working at St. Cecilia and Our Lady parishes in the Portland area, where he raised the issue in sermons and conversations.
He has since retired from pastoral ministry but remains active as president and co-founder of Hand in Hand ministries, which builds housing and meets the needs of people living in poverty in Latin America . The group arranges for Louisville-area volunteers to go on short-term missions, and one group of victims of clergy sexual abuse did relief work in Nicaragua .
"They brought the idea" to Fowler, he said. "They made an effort to reconnect with the church, with helping people. I think the majority of them came back feeling a little better about things."
Reporter Peter Smith can be reached at (502) 582-4469.
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