Asia's Strange Silence over the Paedophilia Issue

By Giacomo Galeazzi
Vatican Insider
February 8, 2012

http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/homepage/the-vatican/detail/articolo/pedofilia-paedophilia-vaticano-vatican-asia-12431/

Asia's struggle against paedophilia

According to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Asian Catholic Church is finding it hard to fight paedophilia "because of the cultural differences" that exist and the "varied interpretations of what child abuse constitutes"

The problem is particularly accentuated in Asia Mgr. Charles Scicluna, Promoter of Justice at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith commented during the international symposium on sex abuse of minors by the clergy, organised by Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University. In response to the "Asian emergency", Mgr. Scicluna recently gathered all leaders of Asian Episcopal Conferences for an unprecedented closed-door meeting in Bangkok.

"Asian Churches are gradually becoming aware that abuse is going on and that something must be done about it." But except from the Philippines, all other Asian Episcopates are late in adopting the Holy See's guidelines against paedophilia. "In some cultures is especially difficult for victims to come out into the open and report abuse. We are debating with Asian bishops on how to change a culture that encourages silence," Scicluna emphasised. This is why there are still only very few cases being reported in Asia compared to the thousands of reports filed in Europe and the United States. Victims need to be listed to in order to be able to understand the problem properly and act prudently and with determination. Churches throughout the world need to be helped to formulate new efficient pastoral care programmes. Prevention and education. Speaking to Vatican Radio, Scicluna also made reference to his and Cardinal Levada's missions to various parts of the world, including Latin America and Asia, in order to support the work done by local churches to counter these crimes. Mgr. Scicluna explained to Vatican Radio that the symposium entitled "Towards Healing and Renewal" aims to allow the Church to come up with a global solution to the scandal of sexual abuse of minors by the clergy, and to ensure victims better protection. Delegates from 110 Episcopal Conferences and general superiors from over 30 religious orders will participate in the symposium.

The first goal, the promoter of Vatican Justice explained, is to "create awareness": properly understand the problem, the sad phenomenon of sexual abuse of minors by clerics; but also have the determination to act efficiently, because as the Catholic Church we are in the position to set a good example even on such a serious issue. Indeed, this is expected of us in our Christian mission." The prelate said the focus of attention must be on the victims and one of them will be giving the opening speech. But the Church must also deal with the "clerics who are responsible for harming the victims." "The various experts who were invited to speak – said Mgr. Scicluna as he recalled the Congregation had asked Episcopal Conferences to put together a series of guidelines for the fight against abuse by clerics – will not only offer some points to think about but will also help local Churches and religious Orders develop a clear and efficient policy to combat the sexual abuse of minors." In relation to this prevention, Mgr. Scicluna pointed out that "this needs to begin from the Church's foundations, not just from the hierarchies. Prevention begins in the family, at school and in the parishes: we must ask ourselves how we can detect perilous behaviour and how we can help young girls and boys defend themselves from the malicious intentions of others."

Civil authorities also need to collaborate: "We are talking about a very sad phenomenon which does not only sinful but a crime as well, the promoter of justice recalled. Being a crime, the State has the relevant jurisdiction to act and people have a duty to collaborate with this state criminal jurisdiction." Zero tolerance is the result of years of perseverance" on the Church's part, to eliminate abuse by the clergy. "First by John Paul II, who back in 2002 had said to American cardinals: "There is no room in the ecclesiastical ministry for people who can harm young people and cause a scandal around them. Then there is also Benedict XVI's very strong leadership which is an excellent example for everyone to do good acts and do all that they can to prevent abuse and where there are open wounds, heal them in a loving and caring way."