AUSTRALIA
Vatican News
February 13, 2018
By Richard Marsden
Catholics in Australia will observe a four day period of fasting and reparation in sorrow for child sex abuse and for the healing of victims.
The Catholic Bishops of Australia are calling on the Catholic community to make the first four days of Lent a period of fasting and reparation in sorrow for the “tragedy” of child sex abuse within the Church.
In a letter published by the Australian Bishops Conference, Catholics are encouraged to pray at home and in their parishes – that is, both privately and publicly – for the healing of victims and survivors ahead of the Church giving its response to recommendations made by the Royal Commission into child sex abuse.
The bishops conference has also published texts of special liturgies and prayers for the period of reparation (February 14-17) on its website – including a Holy Hour and Benediction, a Penitential Celebration, and Evening Prayer of the Church.
In the Lenten statement, the bishops write: “Through fasting, we stand in solidarity with the victims and survivors of abuse whose much deeper hunger is for healing and peace in their lives. Through reparation, we make amends for the sin of those in the Church who abused children or failed to listen and act when they should have.” The message adds that these spiritual exercises “express our desire for God’s reconciling and healing grace.”
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.