A priest called me and informed me that they are indeed working on a revision to the Diocese's sexual harassment policy, they are working with lawyers to come up with the new policy, and will post it on their website when it's finished. I have sent the following letter to the Bishop of the Diocese of the Southern United States to make sure the policies we need are in the new upcoming policy:

In the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit one God Amen.

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” -Matthew 18:6  

To His Grace Bishop Youseff:

Certainly, you have been a wonderful bishop. You acquired many churches and care for such a large diocese, yet to each church, you bestow all your love. You even initiated a school where children can grow and learn close to God and close to our Mother the Church. From sermons to youth bible studies to innumerable recordings of your teachings available to all of your children, your endeavors as Christ on earth have been unprecedented. I pray God preserves you in this pandemic and everyone in the body of Christ.

I’m sure you're aware of the #Churchtoo movement across social media. Sally Zakhari, a brave woman, came out about her abuse from the former priest Yousef Aziz Khalil, which happened in our diocese. This is a morbidly tragic occurrence that will scar us all on behalf of innocence and purity forcefully taken by someone who was presumed to be a man of God. Thankfully this movement encouraged more people to come out about abuse from their priests, displaying that there will be a change for the better. While we cannot rewrite the past, we can affect the future to make sure these experiences don't happen again. 

Other dioceses in the country have revised their sexual harassment and misconduct policy. The diocese of Southern California and Hawaii have adopted the Catholic policy which includes training clergymen. Even the Diocese of Pennsylvania, though acknowledging that their infrastructure is still improving as a young diocese, has taken a step in ensuring security for their children. The diocese of Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana have guaranteed their people of a new policy and specified how they’ll work closely with state laws and enforcement to protect their children. I have accommodated pictures of these documents for you to read. This is an important step for the Church: a transition for the protection of the nurturing of our youth.

We beseech you as a community that you utilize these new policies into our diocese as well. What our community needs are policies such as organizing an aid system that allows victims of sexual misconduct to inquire professional guidance in a judgment-free zone, making sure confessions are in a publicly viewable location, obligating psychological evaluations and background checks for current and upcoming priests by an independent third party, and obligating sexual misconduct education for all current and future priests and servants of the church. How do you expect converts to feel when the sheep feel unheard and unsafe?  Additionally, I beg you to comfort your children that have been harmed in these occurrences as to confirm that the church is not against them, but standing beside them on their road to healing. This way we can grow closer to the church Christ intended us to be. We are not asking you to take this into consideration, instead, we are asking you to make changes. 

Thank you for your love, time, and respect,

-your children in Christ