Wear a ribbon of repentance
from Dorothea Russell, Cape Town
As Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of Johannesburg has said, the Church’s credibility is in ruins because of the sexual abuse scandal.
Here is a small idea: let all of us — pope, bishops, clergy, religious, laity — wear a strip of simple purple ribbon pinned on us, similar to the Aids ribbon of solidarity. We can all repent on behalf of the Church for allowing this to happen.
Victims of the abuse have been left, as adults, emotionally dysfunctional for decades on end.
People may ask: “What’s this ribbon?” Then the wearer can explain that we as Church are in repentance for this scandalous wrong.
Better than hanging our heads in shame and remaining silent, or being defensive by way of being “loyal” to the Church.
This is a forum for your thoughts, opinions and questions. These, in no way reflect the position of The Southern Cross or the Catholic Church.
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