BY SHAY CULLEN
THE NEW Church protocols and rules to report every suspected act of child abuse must be strictly implemented. However, unless women are given greater positions of authority to serve and protect children, the abuse will never end.
Pope Francis said, “I would like to express to the victims my sadness and pain for the trauma that they suffered. It is also my shame, our shame, for the incapacity of the church for too long to put them at the center of its concerns.”
We should feel more just anger than shame. Jesus was angry at his disciples when they blocked the children from approaching him. (Matthew 19:14) “Let them come for the Kingdom belongs to them”. The abusive clergy think the Kingdom is for the clergy. How much angrier is Jesus today with child abuse in the Church and outside it?
There are hundreds of thousands of good, self-sacrificing lay people, priests and many bishops of true commitment and virtue working for justice in impoverished circumstances, sacrificing themselves daily for the poor and risking their lives fighting for human rights and dignity.
Why should they be shamed and brought into disrespect because some bishops and priests abuse authority to support pedophile-priests and cover up their child abuse crimes. The sins of a few are vested upon the many. This is another aspect of the injustice.
Many more good clergy and laity must speak out and support the child defenders and stand against the cover up and shame brought upon their vocation and life’s work. They are being unjustly and wrongly smeared with the crimes of the few who are protected. That deference and protection for pedophile priests must end.
Not to report abusive clergy is being part of the problem. The honest, innocent and hardworking priests and lay people should act as Jesus of Nazareth did, denounce the evil and protect and support the victims. Their silence should not tarnish and should never tolerate the cover up and secrecy protecting pedophiles-priests or any child abusers.
Anyone with knowledge of an abused child can give tip offs anonymously to the child protective NGOs like Preda Foundation (www.preda.org) as to the whereabouts of the victims that need help and tell who the abuser is if the know him or her. The child victims are the center and most important of this mission for justice.
In the Philippines where child abuse among clergy is systematically covered up and denied, victims are allegedly intimidated from making complaints and parents are paid off not to pursue complaints. An independent investigation like that in France is long overdue.
It was in 2002 when some victims of clerical abuse complained and spoke out and the Church apologized. No one was charged or convicted. Ever since then, there has been a total silence and lockdown.
The Church policy of dealing with clerical child sexual abuse as a secret internal matter as Cardinal Antonio Tagle has said on television, must change. Transparency and the needs and rights of the child victims must be the top priority, not protecting the pedophiles or the institutional Church’s reputation.
Many child abuse cases are referred to predainfo@preda.org and the victims are found, rescued and brought to protective sanctuary where they are protected, affirmed and the abuse is verified. The children are healed and empowered and the abusers, no matter their power and status, will be brought to justice.
It has been the true Christians, adult laypeople, the brave and courageous child victims that have come out in public to make complaints and demand justice in recent years in other countries. They found the courage to speak out and their numbers grew demanding justice. It led to independent investigations around the world. The children and supporting adults have to report abuse and demand justice and compensation.
All Christians have to act to heal the wounds of physical, emotional and psychological suffering inflicted upon the children. It is a terrible evil that continues today .As Jesus said to be great and good we have to be active dedicated servants and defenders of children, never condone defending their abusers. (preda.org)/PN
