A bold step forward on abuse

Last month’s statement issued by Cardinal Wilfrid Napier on behalf of the Southern African bishops detailing a change of approach in dealing with allegations of sexual abuse by Church personnel represents a bold step forward.

Where previously the Church’s protocols on sexual abuse was seen as taking priority over the legal processes, the statement now commits the Church to “encourage the victims or their parents/ guardians to report the sexual offence to the competent public authorities in order to protect other possible victims.” Moreover, “if the parents/guardians of a minor do not report the crime, the Church will carry out its moral obligation to do so.” The statement further undertakes to let the legal processes run their course before the Church commences its internal protocol.

By taking this courageous step, the bishops’ conference not only guards itself against potential conflict with the justice ministry, but also demonstrates its determination to root out the scandal of Church personnel abusing those they are meant to lead and serve.

It must be hoped that the content and spirit of the June statement will be formally and unanimously endorsed and adopted when the bishops of Southern Africa meet in plenary next month, and fully implemented afterwards. Anything less could cause the local Church even further loss of public credibility.

While the secular media has rightly commended the statement, there is no reason to believe that its release will mark an end to further disturbing revelations. Indeed, the same issue of the Sunday Times that covered Cardinal Napier’s statement carried a report of an allegation of inappropriate sexual conduct by a priest, even though the nature of these allegations did not centre on non-consensual or abusive acts (and, in this instance, the bishops’ protocol was seen to be properly implemented).

The June statement deals admirably with potential future abuses. It cannot, however, mask past abuses. If the Church failed in addressing these, then this must be acknowledged, openly and sincerely.

Conversely, where Church leaders have shown full integrity in dealing with allegations of abuse, this should be made known, too. Here, Bishop Kevin Dowling’s meticulous handling of the recent trial of Fr Mugera provides an instructive case study.

The Church worldwide will now be looking to the archdiocese of Boston, the epicentre of the abuse scandal in the United States, which in Archbishop Sean O’Malley has a new head.

The archbishop won wide praise for his handling of abuse allegations in his former dioceses of Fall River, Massachusetts, and Palm Beach, Florida, as well as for his compassionate outreach to the victims of abuse.

His appointment is a clear indication that the Vatican is serious about restoring trust in a hierarchy that has been tarnished by the actions and inactions of some bishops.

Addressing a press conference after his appointment to Boston, Archbishop O’Malley called for amends to the “grave errors of the past”.

The challenge facing the Church now is to discern how such redress is to be accomplished. Ways must be found to bring closure to the anguish of abuse survivors. Nothing less will heal the Church.