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| Can the New Pope Fix the Sexual Scandals of the Church?
By Mike Bryant
The Legal Examiner
April 23, 2013
http://stcloud.legalexaminer.com/property-owners-liability-slip-and-fall/can-the-new-pope-fix-the-sexual-scandals-of-the-church.aspx?googleid=308002
There is an easy answer and that is "yes". Jeff Anderson took a look at this topic over at his must read blog based on a CNN Interview:
There are seven concrete measures the future pope can and must implement to bring about change within the clerical culture on child sexual abuse. First, disclose the names of all the clerics credibly accused and known to the Vatican worldwide along with the country, state, and parish or school where the offenses were allegedly committed. More than a dozen bishops have already created such lists and made them public.
Second, publicly disclose all of the documents within the Vatican's archives that pertain to reports of child sex abuse, the Vatican's response to it, and the hierarchy's role in the abuse. The church must begin to make amends to survivors, and exposing the secrets and concealment contained in such documents is a critical step.
Third, revise church canon law and Vatican protocols so that no secrecy surrounds child sex abuse. Secrecy is toxic, and in it, child abuse flourishes. Fourth, require each bishop and church official to report clergy accused of sexual abuse of minors to law enforcement.
Fifth, retain independent and outside professionals to conduct an audit to assure compliance and reliability. An example of a case where this independent investigation worked is the Louis Freeh Report regarding Penn State and the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal.
Sixth, retain independent and outside professionals, nonclerics, who do not have a requirement of obedience to the pope and bishops, to conduct investigations into child sex crimes by clergy.
Seventh, retain independent and outside professionals to train, educate, and modernize child protection procedures and protocols in every diocese worldwide.
These are all changes that would make a major difference. I would also add:
- Agree to find all survivors and work to make everyone whole. Forgo statute of limitation defenses and legal arguments that would stand in the way of recovery.
- Look at the zero tolerance policies and enforce them. Send a clear message that from here on out there will be only zero tolerance.
- Look into every bankruptcy attempt that has been used to escape liability by many diocese and insure that there will be full compensation of all survivors with a goal of making every one of them whole.
This is real leadership and a true championing of the rights of those who most need the churches help.
also see the article by survivor William Lynch: Sexual abuse in the church: William Lynch on why a new pope doesn't mean justice.
Abuse of children and the continued silence by the offenders needs to be prevented. If you suffered, saw, or suspected such events, it is important to know that there is help out there.
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