Durham University issues report on impact of abuse crisis on Catholic communities

The whole Catholic Church should listen more to the victims and survivors of clerical child abuse and the experience of affected parish communities and consider appropriate action, a new report says.

The Cross of the Moment report is based on research led by Durham University's Centre for Catholic Studies. It is the first study of how the abuse crisis has impacted the whole Catholic community in England and Wales.

The report suggests that aspects of the culture and practices of the Catholic Church are implicated in how clerical child sexual abuse has happened. They also partly explain how the response of the Church has often failed, causing further pain and harm, described by victims and survivors as "secondary abuse".

The report invites groups across the Catholic community to listen more deeply to the voices of those directly and indirectly affected and consider what may need to change in Catholic culture and theological understanding.

It responds to Pope Francis' proposal that to move forward, the Catholic community needs "a continuous and profound conversion of hearts attested by concrete and effective actions that involve everyone in the Church".

The focus of the research was to listen to the voices of victims and survivors of abuse and their families. It also listened to others either directly or indirectly affected by the abuse crisis including parish communities, laypeople, priests, deacons, bishops, religious communities and safeguarding staff. The report presents theological reflection on the experiences described.

Although the report recognises that progress has been made in safeguarding practice and in finding more compassionate ways to accompany and support victim-survivors, it concludes that more work is needed. It suggests learning from restorative justice and healing circle practices to find ways to heal relationships between victim-survivors and the Catholic community. It also suggests habits of clericalism are changed and accountability within the Church's structures is improved.

The researchers carried out 82 interviews and four focus groups. The participants were drawn from 14 of the 22 Catholic dioceses and 16 religious orders across England and Wales.

All the research participants who had experienced sexual abuse in a Catholic setting had also experienced being treated inadequately by a representative of the Church when they came forward with an allegation or sought support around a disclosure. Many disclosures were met by denial, disbelief or a lack of compassion for the person and their pain.

A survivor explained this as "how the institution treats you, how the institution ignores you, how the institution doesn't want to know you". Another survivor said that "you want belief more than anything or any financial compensation, before anything whatsoever, for somebody to say that they believe you means everything".

Some victim-survivors had also later experienced sensitive support and solidarity but there were not enough of these "glimmers of hope".

In the research, people from directly affected parishes described the pain and grief when a priest disappears or is found guilty and imprisoned for sexual offences. Fellow priests, deacons and bishops talked about the burden of sadness and fear they experience and the complex responsibilities they carry.

Lead author of the report, Dr Pat Jones from the Centre for Catholic Studies at Durham University, said: "It is transformative to listen deeply to those whose lives and faith have been affected by abuse. We hope this research will enable many more people to approach this painful area of our common life and become part of a redemptive response."

The aspects of Catholic culture explored in the report include clericalism and the lack of practical structures of accountability. Many research participants spoke about how priests are seen as superior, "God-like", untouchable and assumed to be holy by default. One participant said: "We've put people on this pedestal and we've left them there".

Discussing accountability, one priest said: "I think we're the least monitored, least controlled, least supervised group of people in the whole world".

The report discusses areas of Catholic teaching and theology which underpin or influence how these aspects of Catholic culture and practice have developed and draws out different interpretations. In relation to clericalism for example, the report points to the theology of the priesthood of the whole baptised community which needs greater emphasis.

The report also highlights the importance of the current development within the global Catholic Church of practices of "synodality". Synodal processes can help Catholic communities to reflect on the abuse crisis and recognise what needs to be healed and changed.

One victim-survivor said: "This is a practical, compassionate and honest document revealing that victims' cries for justice, healing and transparency were possibly silenced by structures within the Church itself. As we move forward, we are reminded that a conversion of hearts is advocated by Pope Francis - without this, no real change can be affected."

Baroness Sheila Hollins is a cross-bench life peer in the House of Lords and a former member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. She commented: "This is an excellent report which discusses most of the issues in a convincing way. It will be a valuable resource for the continuing work we need to do at every level. That work of healing needs to be led by survivors, whose voices and insights are prominent in the report."

Antonia Sobocki is the director of the charity, LOUDfence, which aims to work with churches to actively foster a culture which is pro-safeguarding and truth telling. She commented: "The Cross of the Moment Report has captured with great clarity and objectivity the same observations as the 'on the ground work' of LOUDfence UK activists.

"I commend the report for equipping the whole church with a diagnostic resource which will be invaluable in its mission of collective healing, restorative justice and care."

Bishop Paul Mason, Lead Bishop for Safeguarding, said: "I thank the authors of The Cross of the Moment and welcome it as a report that amplifies the voices of victims and survivors of abuse. The Church remains committed to listening with humility to them as their experiences will always inform our safeguarding work - something that lies at the heart of the Church's mission.

"This is an in-depth report compiled over four years. We will review its contents carefully with an openness to any learning that will refine and improve our practices to protect all who come into contact with the Church.

"We again offer an unreserved apology to all those who have been hurt by abuse in the Catholic Church in England and Wales and reiterate the open invitation from the bishops to meet with and listen to victims and survivors.

"The Church is committed to continual review and development, assisted by the audit work of the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency, so that all our communities are places of safety and sanctuary for all."

LINKS

Cross of the Moment report: www.durham.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/catholic-studies/research/boundary-breaking-/

Centre for Catholic Studies - www.durham.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/catholic-studies/

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, support is available from Safe Spaces on 0300 303 1056 or visit www.safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk.