Synod: Sex Abuse Hinders Evangelisation

Vatican Insider
October 12, 2012

http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/homepage/the-vatican/detail/articolo/sinodo-18872/

Bishops and cardinals during the openign of the Synod

The theme of this morning’s session of the Synod on the new evangelisation which is underway in the Vatican was the issue of clerical sex abuse against minors.

"How can we evangelize those who have been deeply hurt by men of the church involved in sexual abuse?" asked Canadian bishop Brian Joseph Dunn of Antigonish in Canada. “Jesus took care of the disillusioned , listening carefully to the disciples’ stories, restoring in them a new awareness of his presence. Jesus’ example shows that the new evangelisation which is taking place right in the midst of the sex abuse crisis, is carried out in at least four different ways.”

Firstly, “providing a real opportunity for people’s stories to be listened to and for a common discernment, in order to understand the depth of the pain, hatred and disillusionment triggered by this scandal. This ministry of listening could become part of the ministry of every diocese, in the form of a meditation office, where people can express their pain and search for an “ideal form of reconciliation.”

Secondly, “reflecting on the reasons that led to this crisis, developing measures for the creation of environments that are safe for children and for the most vulnerable members of the community of faithful.”

Thirdly, Bishop Dunn of Antigonish continued, in order to respond to the paedophilia issue, “all relations and structures within our parishes and local Churches need to be permeated by a spirit of communion through a dialogue that brings people closer, recognises the presence of the Spirit of God in members of the community and assists those who claim that the Church never listens to them.”

Finally, it is necessary to encourage “co-responsibility with appropriate changes to some of the Church’s structures and in the mentality, attitude and the sensibility of those working closely with lay people.”

“These changes – the Canadian prelate said – could translate into the training of pastoral groups composed of Presbyterians and lay people, as an official reflection upon and recognition of lay ecclesial ministries, as well as through a deliberate and systematic involvement of women, giving them positions of leadership at every level of ecclesial life, allowing them to be officially recognized as readers and acolytes and instituting a "ministry of catechesis". When this happens, the Spirit will be listened to again, our faith will be transmitted more effectively, our faith will be renewed and our witness will seem more authentic in our contemporary world."