Warsaw: Day Two of safeguarding conference

Cardinal Seán O'Malley

Source: Vatican News

Participants from across Central and Eastern Europe on Monday took part in the second day of a safeguarding conference being held in Warsaw, Poland today. Organized by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (PCPM), the is focused the theme 'Our Common Mission of Safeguarding God's Children.'

The day began with Mass, celebrated by American Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley, OFMCap. During his brief homily, the Cardinal said: "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."

He lamented the many times that survivors of clerical sexual abuse have been "rejected in their suffering when they spoke out. However the Cardinal praised the courage of survivors and their families to allow their pain to help the Church better safeguard others.

"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 recognising its faults and steadfastly committed to seeking justice and reconciliation with those who have been harmed."

The first address of Day Two was given by Czech-born Mgr Tomáš Halík, who served in the 'underground church' during the long decades of communist oppression. He spoke to the 80-odd participants about the "phenomenon of abuse in a wider context."

Mgr Halík said the Church in post-communist countries has not yet fully overcome the "clericalism" and "triumphalism" which often results in sexual abuse, as well as psychological and spiritual abuse. He added that the abuse of power and authority by members of the clergy is "a disease of the system" and not of mere individuals.

"It needs to be seen in a broader context and can only be overcome by courage to reform the many related problems concerning the level of the theological, pastoral and spiritual understanding of the Church and the priesthood," he said. "Disciplinary measures alone will not solve the problem." Rather, he said, the Church can only overcome the "crisis of the clergy" by embracing a new understanding of its role in contemporary society.

Models to go by, he concluded, include "the Church as the 'pilgrim people of God' (communio viatorum), the Church as a 'school of Christian wisdom', the Church as a 'field hospital', and the Church as a place of encounter, sharing and reconciliation."

Prof Myriam Wijlens, Justice Neville Owen, and Professor Paweł Wiliński took part in the afternoon panel on: 'Transparency, Accountability, Responsibility.'

Prof Wijlens, a professor of canon law and member of the PCPM, called for a theological and canonical reflection on the diocesan bishop's responsibility to provide prevention, intervention, justice, and healing" for abuse survivors.

She said clerical sexual abuse deprives children of their dignity and sexual integrity, as well as wounding their Christian faith.

Justice Owen, former chairman of 'The Truth, Justice and Healing Council' of the Australian Bishops' Conference and also a member of the PCPM, offered the second afternoon keynote speech.

He explored how secular authorities are ready to step in when the Church insufficiently protects the most vulnerable and when abuse is covered up. Pointing to four-year Royal Commission investigation into abuse in the Church in Australia, Justice Owen said the Church in many other nations can learn from the government inquiry, and work toward better responsibility, accountability, and transparency.

The final talk of the afternoon was given by Professor Wiliński, a Polish Supreme Court judge, with a call for the Church to put in place legislation to protect the rights of abuse survivors. He said effective systems of procedural protection must always seek to keep from worsening their already-painful wounds received at the hands of clergy.