“There is still much needing to be done” when it comes to countering abuse committed by the clergy. Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley, President of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, made the remarks during a press conference at the Holy See Press Office to present the Annual Report on Church Policies and Procedures for Safeguarding, ten years after the Commission was first established by Pope Francis. “A Church that is safe from abuse within, and a Church that is an effective protagonist against abuse and an advocate for the dignity of children and vulnerable adults throughout the world”. These are the main objectives of the Report, which analyses in detail, based on the ‘Ad limina’ visits, the Bishops’ Conferences of Mexico, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, Belgium, Cameroon. Findings from all other Conferences that made ‘Ad limina’ visits – Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Sri Lanka, Colombia, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa), Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini (Regional Bishops’ Conference of Southern Africa), Togo, Burundi – Missionaries of the Consolata (female), Congregation of the Holy Spirit (male) are presented in summarised form. Two religious institutes were analysed: Consolata Missionary Sisters (Female) Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Male). In the Annual Report, the Commission presents findings in “case studies” on the Caritas organizations, across its institutional levels.
“The need for consolidation and clarity around the jurisdictions held by dicasteries of the Roman Curia, to ensure the efficient, timely, and rigorous management of cases of abuse referred to the Holy See. The need for a streamlined process for discharge from office, to enable a smooth and simple pathway for the resignation or removal of a Church leader, when warranted.”
These are among the recommendations outlined in the documenta long with the need “to further develop the Church’s magisterium on her safeguarding ministry, to promote conversion within the Church regarding child dignity and human rights in relation to abuse.” “To study damages and compensation policies to promote a rigorous approach to reparations, as part of the Church’s commitment to the healing journey of victims/survivors”, the document’s recommendation in support of abuse survivors.
At continental level, the Report denounces “a troubling lack of reporting structures and victim/survivor accompaniment” requesting for resignation or removal from office of those whose inactions have been the source of additional harm to victims/survivors of sexual abuse. Hence the need for a “unified and theological-pastoral vision” of the problem, perhaps with “a document of the Magisterium unifying these perspectives — as an Encyclical.”
“Compensation in the Church is not merely reduced to financial aspects, but embraces a much broader spectrum of actions”, the Commission explains, mentioning other aspects that “are often even more important” such as “acknowledging mistakes, public apologies, and other forms of true fraternal closeness to victims/survivors and their communities.” Nevertheless, “economic reparations are also particularly relevant, and the Commission will continue to off er its cooperation to key Church bodies so that standardised and known procedures are developed in a more comprehensive way.” “While parts of the Americas, Europe, and Oceania have benefi tted from substantial resources available for safeguarding, a significant part of Central and South America, Africa, and Asia have inadequate dedicated resources”, reads the text. The Commission therefore noted
“the urgency of increasing solidarity among episcopal conferences, to mobilise resources for a universal standard in safeguarding.”
Adherence to the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention), ratified by many nations in the region, has contributed to significant advances, although “the safeguarding landscape within the Catholic Church across the European Region exhibits considerable diversity.” “In nations that have experienced very complex crises or that have developed an in-depth public dialogue on abuses, there is a clear trend toward establishing more structured and responsive systems for dealing with abuse within the Church”, states the Report: “Local Churches that belong to this group — including the local Churches of Ireland, France, Italy, and Poland — have developed legal and training frameworks along with active engagement with victims/survivors and collaboration with civil authorities.”
Some of the challenges that our continent is called upon to address include “a persistent absence of reliable statistics about the scale of abuse by clerics and religious in several parts of the region”.
Moreover, groups of victims “report that in some countries, preserving the Church’s reputation still takes priority over the protection of victims/survivors.”
