Abuse counselor resigns after 2 years with diocese

PORTLAND – The Roman Catholic Diocese announced Tuesday the resignation of the counselor hired two years ago to assist survivors of sexual abuse and parishes in crisis.

Susanne Sturm of Bangor resigned effective Aug. 1 from the Support and Assistance Ministry for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, according to Sue Bernard, spokeswoman for the diocese.

Bernard said the diocese “is in the process of contracting with a professional to provide this ministry and, in the interim, will continue to make assistance available.”

Requests for assistance “have diminished significantly in recent months,” according to the diocese. Sturm decided to seek a position that “more consistently and broadly utilizes her professional skills,” Bernard said.

Sturm, whose background is as a trauma specialist, was hired in July 2002 to provide support to victims, direct them to professional counseling when needed and assist in setting up support groups for those wanting to participate. She did not counsel them herself.

The charter requires the diocese to provide for the “Protection of Children and Young People” as instituted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in June 2002.

Bernard said Tuesday that Sturm worked with about 30 victims and their families who sought help from the diocese during her two-year tenure. She also helped develop crisis teams that could go into churches to assist staff and parishioners when a priest is removed suddenly or dies.

Sturm moved to Bangor from Washington five years ago to work for the former Garland House, a residential treatment center for woman trauma survivors. The facility closed in 2000, but Sturm stayed in the community working as a consultant.