UNITED STATES
U.S. Catholic
By Father Paul Smyth, CMF
The Symposium, Towards Healing and Renewal from 6th – 9th February 2012 at the Gregorian University in Rome was attended by approximately 220 people; 91 bishops: 80 priests; 15 female religious, the rest being lay men and women with related experience, (victims, psychotherapists, lawyers etc.). During the mornings there were presentations focusing on different dimensions of the abuse of minors by clergy, with presenters coming from Ireland, UK, Malta, South Africa, USA, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Philippines and Italy. With representatives from every continent it was the first time that the issue of child abuse by clergy had been explored from an international perspective rather than as a reaction to the crisis as it emerged in particular situations.
As one would expect given recent history, points highlighted in the presentations included:
The primacy of the protection of Children.
The need for complete openness and transparency on the part of the church
The responsibility of the church to protect all of its members (accusers and accused)
While the sexual abuse of children by clergy has had horrific consequences for those who have been abused, their families and the Church; it is also clear that the way victims have been treated by bishops and clergy when they have tried to report abuse has often exacerbated feelings of betrayal and abuse. It was made clear that this is not acceptable and only serves to further damage the church. Compliance with the civil authorities should also be open and transparent with the intention being the protection of the truth and not the protection of an individual’s reputation.
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.