From the beginning, the Commission Members have adopted the principle that the healing and pastoral care of victims/survivors of sexual abuse is of primary importance to our work.

The first way to learn is to meet and to listen, especially for Church leaders.  Listening is an important part of the healing process for the victims/survivors, but also for their families, communities, and for the entire Church.

Victims/survivors, more than anyone else, can also teach us how to prevent future abuse. One of the specially dedicated “working groups” of the Commission focuses on initiatives and projects aimed at improving pastoral outreach to the victims/survivors, families and faith communities that have been wounded by clerical abuse of children and vulnerable adults.