By Fabrizio Mastrofin
Vataican Insider
November 4, 2011
http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/homepage/inquiries-and-interviews/detail/articolo/pedofilia-pedophilia-9603/
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| Mgr. Charles Scicluna, in the foreground |
“Warn” and “prevent”. Together with empowerment, these are the Church’s three new keywords with regards to abuse against minors. U.S. bishops have known this for a while; now the Universal Church is well aware of this too.
A summary of the ten commandment strategy that the Holy See is following, was given on Thursday by Mgr. Charles Scicluna, of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Mgr. Scicluna is in charge of “promoting justice”, that is, he is public minister of the Vatican court that deals with various types of cases, including priest abusers. Since competence to deal with such crimes was passed on to the Holy See, Mgr. Scicluna has played an increasingly central role. Hence his speech on what the Church “can do”, at the International Forum “The World’s Children and the Abuse of Their Rights”, co-organised by non-profit organisation, Telefono Azzurro, under the patronage of the President of the Italian Republic and in the presence of the President of the Italian Senate, Renato Schifani.
The strategy’s ten points include: firstly: care and respect for children’s’ innocence; secondly: “abuse against children causes tragic wounds” and if a priest commits this abuse, the harm caused is “repugnant beyond description”; thirdly: empowerment, that is, making every effort to prevent abuse and increase awareness among children and families of this tragic reality. “Education is the first step – Mgr. Scicluna said – in order to protect oneself from other people’s intrusion.” Then, one must be able to “speak out about acts of abuse and bring them to light.” If they are committed by priests, these acts are defined as “abuse of power” as well as outright expressions of violence, and the individuals responsible must be punished - no ifs, no buts; fourthly: improvement seminarian training; fifthly: the adoption of codes of conduct for efficient and fast intervention; point six, cooperate with the police and the judiciary since such crimes are punishable under criminal law; point seven, care must be taken with abuse victims and perpetrators, in order to avoid further damage, “because we know that abuse gives way to further abuse through the generations”; point eight: perpetrators of abuse are to be banned from holding any future role in the Church community; point nine: “we have a lot to learn from psychology, sociology and forensic sciences.” This means more in-depth scientific study, as well as working out how to offer ever better and more prompt responses. Finally, the tenth point, involves showing commitment and responsibility, because alertness and commitment concern everyone.
Mgr. Scicluna’s ten commandments were given impetus by their widespread quoting of the latest texts written by Benedict XVI. And they offer an indication ahead of February’s international congress on abuse and possible responses, at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. During the congress, delegates of Episcopal Conferences and experts will compare ideas.
In the Anglo-Saxon world, as well as in Italy, there are various centres that treat priests and nuns suffering from mental problems (not just sexual crimes, these are in fact only make up a minority of cases). Has the time now come for the sharing of experiences? The convention will provide a response to this and other such questions.
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