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PRESS RELEASE
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During a homily on day two of a safeguarding Conference for churches in central and eastern Europe, Tutela Minorum President, Cardinal Seán O'Malley OFM Cap urged those gathered to give thanks for the courage and witness of clerical sexual abuse survivors.
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Referencing the daily feast of St. Andrew Kim and Companions he said: “As one famous theologian once said, it is difficult to suffer for the Church, but it can be even more difficult to suffer at the hands of the Church and of the Church’s clergy.”
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He continued “We are gathered here because so many of our brothers and sisters have suffered at the hands of abusive clergy who have perpetrated evil acts by using their office to abuse others or to cover up such abuse. And many times, those who have suffered have been rejected in their suffering when they spoke out. This cannot be what Jesus wants of his Church; this cannot be the Church of a loving and reconciling God. Abuse and its cover up must stop and the wrongs done to God’s people must be corrected.
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The courage and witness of so many survivors and their families and their deep concern that others are not harmed in a similar way should be recognized and welcomed. We give thanks to God for their witness and their presence among us. In some unexpected way they are writing the next chapter in the history of those who suffer for the faith. They take their place among the courageous witnesses of the faith, of Andrew Kim and companions, of Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko and so many others whose sufferings in the name of truth are known to God alone.”
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Cardinal O’ Malley concluded: “So, we pray to God so that, in God’s own wise ways, these sufferings may be the seeds of a more resilient, a more loving and a more faithful Church, humbly recognizing its faults and steadfastly committed to seeking justice and reconciliation with those who have been harmed.”
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Our common mission of safeguarding God’s children —will be held in Warsaw Poland from September 19th to 22nd. It is a joint initiative of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and the Polish Bishops’ Conference in cooperation with the St. Joseph Foundation
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More information is available at the conference website www.safechildren.eu now online in English, Italian and polish
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#OurCommonMission; #safeguarding; #SafeChurch
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Cardinal O’Malley: Sexual abuse crisis requires a ‘pastoral conversion’
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The President of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors opens a safeguarding conference in the Polish city of Warsaw, and reiterates Pope Francis’ invitation for the Church in Eastern and Central Europe to undergo a pastoral conversion. By Devin Watkins “Listening to, acknowledging survivors and sincerely seeking their pardon are indispensable steps on this journey of renewal.” Cardinal …
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Pope to warsaw Conference: Misguided concern for Church reputation should not sideline abuse victims' welfare
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In a video message to a 3-day conference in Warsaw, Poland, on safeguarding children from abuse in the Church, Pope Francis calls for real and reliable change. By Vatican News staff reporter As an important international conference on the protection of vulnerable children and adults for the Churches of Central and Eastern Europe kicks off in the Polish capital, Warsaw, …
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The Voices of Victims of Clergy Sexual Abuse
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Ewa Kusz, a member of the organizing committee for the regional conference on the protection of minors for central and eastern Europe taking place in Warsaw, gathers the voices of people who have been abused by priests. By Ewa Kusz What do those who have been wounded within the Church say? What do they expect from the Church, from “Church …
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PONTIFICAL COMMISSION FOR THE PROTECTION OF MINORS
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Largo Giovanni Paolo II | 00120 – Vatican City State
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