U.S. Bishops : Healing Wounds Is Our Mission

By Edward J. Burns
USA Today
February 25, 2016

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2016/02/25/spotlight-us-conference-of-catholic-bishops-editorials-debates/80948046/

It is important to state that the work of fostering a safe environment for children is a top priority and sacred responsibility of the Catholic Church.

In 2002, Pope John Paul II addressed sexual abuse in the Church and called it “a crime.” In light of this abuse, he said that “the Church herself is viewed with distrust.”

In a 2010 pastoral letter, Pope Benedict XVI said to bishops, “It cannot be denied that some of you and your predecessors failed, at times grievously, to apply the long-established norms of canon law to the crime of child abuse.”

This past September, Pope Francis, immediately after meeting with victims of sexual abuse, spoke to the bishops taking part in the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. He said, “I commit myself to ensuring that the Church makes every effort to protect minors, and I promise that those responsible will be held to account. Survivors of abuse have become true heralds of hope and ministers of mercy; humbly we owe our gratitude to each of them and to their families for their great courage in shedding the light of Christ on the evil sexual abuse of minors.”

The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, adopted by the U.S. bishops in 2002, requires involving civil authorities, no matter how long ago an allegation may have occurred. It requires zero tolerance, meaning anyone credibly accused is permanently removed from ministry. It requires background checks, psychological screening of seminarians, safe environment training for children and adults, and regular audits to ensure diocesan compliance and transparency.

The task of healing wounds caused by sin is not seen as a distraction to the work of the Church — it is our mission!

The Most Rev. Edward J. Burns, bishop of Juneau, Alaska, is the chairman of the Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.