Reflections of WYD - Church abuse protocol is no joke
Frank Brenan 22/7/08
It is very gratifying that Pope Benedict took the opportunity of his World Youth Day visit to apologise to the victims of sexual abuse by clergy and other church personnel. He ended his visit by celebrating mass with some victims, having already made his own courageous decision to say sorry for the pain and suffering endured. His apology was heartfelt and included a clear directive to the local church to extend compassion, care and justice to the victims. During his visit, some persons expressed dissatisfaction with the Catholic Church’s protocol Towards Healing, which sets out the principles and procedures for the Church response to complaints of abuse against Church personnel. Father Chris Riley went so far as to label it ‘a joke’, with the perpetrators being the only winners.See: http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=8200
Abuse victims reconciliation a work in progress
Michael Mullins; 21/7/08; http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=8184
Letters
22/7/08
Welcome though it was, how astonishing that the Pope should have left it to the very last minute before flying out of Australia to meet and personally apologise to representatives of victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy. Astonishing not only because it was a very secretive arrangement, but also because the Pope had made a point of referring to an apology even while his plane was still on the ground in Rome last week. It should have been the Pontiff’s first act, not his last. Some would read a great irony in the fact that the four representatives who met the Pope were chosen by the self-styled “Professional Standards Office” of the Sydney archdiocese, a confirmation that the church hierarchy will continue to dictate the terms of its discredited Towards Healing program only on its terms. As long as the Catholic Church keeps the victims in the shadows, it will prolong their pain and its own failures. Brian Haill
http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/letters/index.php/theaustralian/comments/ maybe_tolerance_and_genuine_charity_are_catching/
Tags: Australia, Christianity, Sex Trade, WYD