Rome Center Designed to Fight Sexual Abuse Expands Its Reach

By Ines San Martin
The Crux
February 16, 2015

http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2015/02/16/rome-center-designed-to-fight-sexual-abuse-expands-its-reach/

In the Church’s latest attempt to demonstrate resolve in its fight against child sexual abuse, an online anti-abuse training and advocacy center sponsored by Rome’s Jesuit-run Gregorian University has announced a major expansion intended to extend the global reach of its efforts.

The overhaul of the Centre for Child Protection is unfolding in collaboration with the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, the body created by Pope Francis last year to lead the charge for reform, headed by Boston Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley.

The Centre for Child Protection is an outgrowth of a major conference staged at the Gregorian University in 2012 that featured the head of the Vatican’s powerful Congregation for Bishops apologizing to victims during a penitential liturgy at a Roman basilica.

“The prevention of sexual and other kinds of abuse of minors is of greatest importance for the universal Church,” O’Malley said Monday. “I am confident and pray that the [Centre for Child Protection] will make a substantial contribution to this long-term effort.”

Although the center doesn’t have any formal connection with the Vatican, three of the members of the Pontifical Commission are highly committed to it: German Jesuit Hans Zollner and British Baroness Sheila Hollins serve in both organizations.

Asked if the Vatican is backing the project, O’Malley said “yes.”

The center’s main focus will be to provide education for preventing and dealing with sexual abuse, as well as on the latest research about causes, effects, and best prevention practices.

For the past three years, the center has carried out an experimental e-learning program that involves 11 partners in 10 countries on four continents. This program is trying to recruit additional partners around the world to support the efforts of O’Malley’s commission.

According to Zollner, more than 1,000 people — priests, deacons, catechists, and educators — have completed the pilot program, and the results are being analyzed.

Zollner, president of the center, said the e-learning program is primarily designed for developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, regions where addressing clerical sexual abuse generally has been slower.

“The collaboration will follow the principle of subsidiarity,” Zollner said. “The partners will be responsible for the projects in their countries.”

According to Zollner, such collaboration will help develop a program that’s sensitive to the “cultural characteristics” of each country.

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Zollner said the program will also pay special attention to the voices of the victims and survivors of clerical sexual abuse.

“Those who have heard [the testimony of survivors] remain convinced that yes, justice must be given to the victims, but also that future cases must be prevented,” he said.

O’Malley shared a personal story to illustrate the need for such initiatives, pointing out that he was baptized by his uncle and then started serving Mass at age 6, eventually entering the seminary at age 13.

“All my teachers were good and holy people that nurtured my soul,” O’Malley said. “But I ask myself, had I been a victim, would I still have been a priest, or Catholic, or would I have committed suicide?”

The prelate focused mainly on two issues: Emphasizing the importance of bishop accountability, and the implementation of guidelines that would guarantee there is no improvisation when accusations of sexual abuse surface.

O’Malley said “there’s no justification for failing to act diligently when faced with evidence of clerical sexual abuse.”

While respecting cultural differences, he said, some aspects of the Church’s approach have to be universal.

For example, any allegation of clerical sex abuse should immediately be reported to law enforcement. Also, any cleric accused of abusing minors should be relieved of his duties pending an investigation; there should be mandatory screening of candidates for the seminary and Church employees; there should be formation programs for clergy, volunteers, and children, and provision has to be made for pastoral care for survivors and their families.

“To regain the trust of those who we serve, we must be known always and everywhere for being committed to the safety of children,” O’Malley said. “Only this can restore confidence in our pastoral ministry.”