VATICAN CITY (VATICAN CITY)
Catholic Outlook [Diocese of Parramatta NSW, Australia]
November 3, 2024
By Matthieu Lasserre
The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors released its first annual report October 29, detailing measures taken to combat sexual violence within the church. The document reveals uneven implementation across various countries worldwide.
This report has been eagerly awaited for more than two years, following Pope Francis’ request that the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors produce a comprehensive overview of the church’s efforts to address sexual abuse. Tutela Minorum – in Latin – published its first report October 29, assessing the adoption of measures by different church entities to combat sexual abuse against minors and vulnerable individuals.
The report presents findings based on interviews with church leaders during episcopal visits to Rome (known as ad limina) and questionnaires sent to stakeholders on the ground. It also issues numerous recommendations.
The approach contrasts with typical methods in Rome. Right from the start, the commission states that not all countries and organizations have reached the same level of awareness. “While some church entities and church authorities demonstrate a clear commitment to safeguarding, others are only at the beginning of undertaking the church’s responsibility,” the commission writes in the preamble, highlighting a “troubling lack” of structures dedicated to protecting minors and vulnerable people in certain countries. This is especially pressing given the motu proprio Vos Estis Lux Mundi, a 2019 papal decree setting new procedures to combat abuse.
The commission notably calls for an encyclical on the subject to incorporate a “theological-pastoral vision” into church teaching on “child dignity and human rights in relation to abuse.”
With this annual report, and future ones to follow, the Vatican now has a tool to provide a global overview of its anti-abuse policies. Each year, 17 bishops’ conferences are reviewed, with these “audits” aiming to assess the entire church over a five-to-six-year period.
A “culture of silence” in some Asian and African countries
The report offers a first global view, covering local and continental churches as well as Catholic organizations (such as Caritas), religious congregations, and Roman dicasteries. It notes a “culture of silence” particularly in missionary countries in Africa and Asia, detailing specific situations among various bishops’ conferences.
While some efforts are praised, such as those in Cameroon, others face criticism. The commission’s Tutela Minorum for example finds a “lack of data on the prevalence of sexual abuse” in Ivory Coast. There is “an urgent need for an increase in research into rates of abuse,” the report states, urging Ivorian bishops to prioritize protection of minors in the local church’s pastoral plan.
Another noteworthy topic is the issue of Fidei Donum and missionary priests, raised in relation to the Belgian bishops’ conference, the Spiritan congregation, and Caritas Internationalis. The role of financial donors in mission countries is directly questioned: “, the safeguarding requirements included as minimum standards for grant funding still need to be mapped and developed,” the commission notes.
In missionary countries, the Spiritan congregation is criticized for its “lack of data” – with protection officers without “any specific ordinary function” – and a general lack of “expertise” on the matter.
Cultural resistance in certain countries
The report also addresses cultural resistance. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for instance, while the Catholic hierarchy seems to have “a strong commitment to safeguarding”, Congolese bishops have reported that efforts to create a framework to combat sexual violence against minors are sometimes viewed as “societal stigma” and “s an imposed Western ideology that does not respond to African challenges.”
To better advance these measures, the commission encourages solidarity among bishops’ conferences, suggesting resource sharing and sensitivity to local cultures.
More broadly, common issues are identified across many countries: lack of resources, decentralization, and insufficient victim involvement in the church’s response to sexual violence. Faced with these challenges, the report advocates pooling efforts and sharing best practices among bishops’ conferences. “Solidarity among local churches was a point of emphasis for the pope,” confirms French Archbishop Thibault Verny, a member of the pontifical commission.
“A significant first step”
According to the French archbishop, this report is “a significant first step” that brings a fresh perspective within the Curia on sexual violence. “This document was developed with victims and encourages greater inclusion of victims in implementing abuse policies,” he says. “It also opens the church to standards from international bodies like UNICEF and the UN,” which are cited several times in the report.
Two Curia dicasteries – the Dicastery for the Clergy and the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), responsible for disciplinary measures – are also evaluated. For the former, the commission urges work on the training of future priests, while the DDF’s disciplinary section is criticized for lacking transparency in procedures involving victims. “Waiting without information and updates can be a source of re-traumatization for victims,” the report adds.
While this overview of anti-abuse policies aims for accuracy, several observers interviewed by La Croix express doubts and highlight certain limitations. “The data was provided by episcopal bodies,” laments a Roman official, questioning the commission’s authority. “If measures are adopted, how can we ensure they’re implemented on the ground?”
“There are new and positive aspects, but central issues like bishops’ accountability or whistleblower status are missing, even though they were central to Vos Estis Lux Mundi,” adds another observer.
“This is indeed an incomplete report, but it sheds light on the situation,” Archbishop Verny says. “Our ultimate goal is to support everyone in better protection.” The commission continues to work on a common framework and standards for protecting minors and vulnerable individuals.