Mary Edlund, the top lay official in the Catholic Diocese of Dallas, has retired after nearly 40 years serving in various positions, including the Office of Religious Education, Office of Pastoral Planning and the chancellor's office.

Edlund's responsibilities included helping victims of sexual abuse by clergy.

Edlund, 70, was first appointed vice chancellor in 1997 at a time when the church was embroiled in a sex abuse scandal involving Rudolph "Rudy" Kos, a former priest who molested altar boys in three parishes. A new position at the time, the work included investigating complaints about priests and looking into other concerns of parishioners.

In August 1998, Edlund was appointed chancellor, assuming the No. 3 post at the diocese. She described her appointment at the time as part of a series of reforms that began after the $119.6 million clergy sex-abuse judgment against the diocese.

Catholic Diocese of Dallas Bishop Edward J. Burns announced Mary Edlund's retirement in a letter this week, stating that Edlund had "served the diocese faithfully and with integrity and diligence since 1979." (Courtesy)

"Hopefully, the message it sends to the people of the church is that the system is being opened up," Edlund said. The diocese, she added, had created "a system of checks and balances so that we don't ever repeat that chapter again."

Edlund declined an interview request.

Paul Petersen, a local chapter leader of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP), said Edlund's tenure at the diocese coincided with the most tumultuous time for abusive priests in Dallas. "I can only hope her successor improves the response on behalf of victims and shows actions instead of hollow words."

Bishop Edward J. Burns announced Edlund’s retirement earlier this week in a letter dated Sept. 4, 2018, to diocesan staff and priests. The letter states that Edlund had “served the diocese faithfully and with integrity and diligence since 1979.”

“My family and I have decided it is time for me to retire and after 39 years, I am ready to take a break and be more present to my family,” Edlund said in the letter signed by Burns.

Auxiliary Bishop Greg Kelly is serving as interim chancellor. Barbara Landregan, diocesan director of the Safe Environment Program, will also serve as victim assistance coordinator.

Edlund holds a master's degree from Catholic University of America.

Town halls announced

As Edlund departs, the diocese is dealing again with sexual abuse, specifically what Burns called credible accusations that Edmundo Paredes, the longtime pastor at St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Oak Cliff, abused three boys more than a decade ago.

The diocese also announced a series of four town hall meetings in October in the wake of the Paredes allegations, as well as a scathing report from Pennsylvania about decades of depraved abuse by clergy in that state.

The town halls will allow Catholic parishioners to ask questions of the bishop and other diocesan officials.

The dates, times and locations for the meetings are as follows:

Tuesday, Oct. 9, 6 p.m. (also will include a "Ceremony of Sorrows")

St. Cecilia Catholic Church

Monday, Oct. 15, 6 p.m.

St. Jude Catholic Church

Tuesday, Oct. 16, 6:00 p.m.

Mary Immaculate Catholic Church

Wednesday, Oct. 17, 6 p.m.

St. Bernard Catholic Church