Sufferers of Sexual Abuse a Focus in Easter Messages

By Jared Owens
The Australian
March 30, 2013

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/sufferers-of-sexual-abuse-a-focus-in-easter-messages/story-e6frg6nf-1226609177436

David Carnell plays the part of Jesus during a re-enactment of the journey to the cross procession in Sydney yesterday. Picture: Dan Himbrechts Source: The Australian

CHRISTIAN leaders across Australia have urged believers to reflect on social injustice this Easter, especially those "shattered" by sexual abuse, living in poverty on our streets or struggling with diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

As Pope Francis broke tradition by washing and kissing the feet of young female sinners at a Roman prison, Cardinal George Pell cited the newly elected pontiff's call for believers to carry the Christian message "certainly in our conversations and official teaching, but especially through our care for one another".

"Once again the Easter message comes from Francis of Assisi - peace and goodness, especially to those who are suffering, to those wounded by Catholic church members, to the sick, the depressed, the bereaved, those experiencing misfortune," the Archbishop of Sydney said in a video message from Rome.

"Deeds are more important than words. Christ is risen, and the victory over evil will one day be complete."

Anglican Church of Australia Primate Phillip Aspinall said that far from being a "fairytale", the story of Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection found "brutal echoes in funerals I've led for Australian Diggers".

"On our streets, too, life and death wage war. Every day, battles are endured by the homeless, the poor and the sick," the Archbishop of Brisbane said, noting his church's work on HIV/AIDS. "Several decades of abuse scandals have shattered victims and marred the genuine good done by so many faith communities.

"In tackling these crimes, we have seen the death of denial and the slow rebirth of proper responses, including mandatory reporting to police."

Uniting Church in Australia president Andrew Dutney said Christians "need never give up on the pursuit of justice and peace" and noted the persecution of Christian minorities in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

"I remember too the pain of our sisters and brothers among the first peoples of Australia and their continuing search for justice and reconciliation," he said.

The Pope broke with tradition on Thursday by washing and kissing the feet of 12 inmates, including Muslims and young women, at a juvenile prison in Rome as a gesture of love and service.

Canon lawyer Edward Peters said the Pope set "a questionable example" by washing the women's feet, contrary to a 1988 Vatican directive that bishops should wash only "the feet of chosen men".