“Justice should be done to the victims”

adminonNovember 26, 2021January 5, 2022Leave a Comment

At its spring plenary meeting in the Franconian pilgrimage site of Vierzehnheiligen on Thursday, the Freising Bishops' Conference adopted a declaration on how the church should deal with allegations of abuse. The Catholic News Agency (KNA) documents the text of the resolution of the Bavarian bishops in unabridged catch:

Vierzehnheiligen, 18. March 2010 1. With deep consternation and shame, the Bavarian bishops informed each other about the cases of abuse in their dioceses and exchanged information. The top priority is to seek the truth and create an open atmosphere that encourages victims to speak out about what has been done to them. Justice should be done for the victims. This requires that they are listened to and that the perpetrators are held accountable. Every Bavarian diocese already has contact persons for victims of sexual abuse. Victims need help to heal psychological wounds. The bishops want to provide help to the individual victims beyond the legal obligation of the perpetrators. The Freising Bishops' Conference knows that in this world there will always be failure and guilt of the individual. The bishops want to investigate every suspicion and clarify every misconduct. For this reason, the Bavarian bishops unanimously recommend that the obligation to report suspected sexual abuse and physical abuse to the public prosecutor's office be established in the revision of the guidelines, and that it be practiced immediately, regardless of this obligation. It is urgent for the bishops to do everything in their power to prevent abuse and violence as much as possible. For effective prevention, all relevant groups must be approached: The Bavarian bishops will continue to exercise great care and prudence in the selection and training of their employees. An effective prevention must strengthen children and young people as well as sensitize educators, teachers and responsible persons. The prevention program of the Federation of German Catholic Youth in Bavaria, for example, offers an important orientation. For years, the BDKJ has trained its full-time and voluntary staff in an exemplary manner in the fight against sexual abuse. The existing initiatives must be intensified in all areas of society. Bishops ready to do their part and step up efforts. In all their efforts in the fight against abuse, the Bavarian bishops know themselves strengthened by the Holy Father and thank him for it. Benedict XVI. has been tirelessly pointing out for years that there must be no tolerance towards sexual abuse. The Freising Bishops' Conference knows that the situation is a spiritual call in the sense of "cleansing the memory," as John Paul II. formulated in his confession of guilt and expressed yesterday and today in the Holy Mass in the Basilica of Vierzehnheiligen. The bishops thank their priests, religious and collaborators who give a testimony of fidelity and dedication through their service.

It was not surprising that during the Pope's trip to Africa – after the debacle over the traditionalists and Holocaust denier Richard Williamson – the controversy over the AIDS ie would break out anew. Already on the flight to Cameroon he commented on this – and repeated the church's position. The media are eagerly pouncing on the statement about condoms – and are studiously overlooking the church's multifaceted fight against immunodeficiency. On Wednesday the Vatican reacted with a statement.

It is necessary to correct "the image that we only throw around 'no'", Pope Benedict XVI replied. in the large television interview before its Bavaria journey 2006 to the topic AIDS in Africa. He made it clear that the church must fight AIDS primarily through education and care for the sick, and that the church in Africa is already doing a great deal in this area. Technology and technical knowledge, it made clear at the time, were not enough if the standards for the proper use of that technology were lacking. The problem of AIDS cannot be solved merely with advertising slogans, with money and not even with the distribution of condoms, the pope said now before his visit to Africa. On the contrary, there is a risk of increasing the problem, probably because it would advertise sexual promiscuity. What is more important is a "humanization of sexuality," a different way of dealing with each other, and attention to those who suffer. The Pope did not say anything new, explained Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi. It reiterated the Church's previous position, and it would not introduce any new positions on this subject during the course of the trip. For the Church, the spread of AIDS cannot be blocked by condoms – especially since the disease is spread in Africa not only through sexual contact, but also through poor hygiene, for example in hospitals. Rather, it is a matter of education for responsible sexual behavior, of propagating the essential role of marriage and family. The Church is by no means inactive here, but makes a significant contribution to the fight against the pandemic through an active presence, through competent and efficient assistance, and through free treatment for as many patients as possible. The Church is concentrating its efforts in this area because it considers it to be the most effective method in the long term for combating the scourge of AIDS. Contrary to some amptions three years ago, a Vatican change of course in the matter of AIDS is not to be expected at present. At the time, Vatican Health Minister Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan had caused speculation when he commissioned a study. However, this was not about a general church approval of condoms, especially since sex outside of marriage is considered a sin by the church. Rather, they asked whether partners in marriage could use a condom if one of them was infected with HIV to prevent infection: Condom use as a "lesser evil," a means to "legitimate defense". After lengthy discussion of the more than 100-page study, the Vatican decided not to ie a new paper. It is a very difficult problem in terms of moral theology, and among moral theologians there is a whole range of legitimate positions, they said at the time. A partial or conditional relaxation of the ban would create confusion. However, one would certainly react appropriately in individual cases to those affected. At the time, Cardinal Godfried Danneels of Belgium called protection against infection or death an "act of precaution that is morally different from the use of condoms for the purpose of contraception". And the former Vatican court theologian Cardinal George Cottier also said that in certain cases condom use could be morally legitimate.

Ahead of a meeting on the clerical abuse scandal in Chile, Pope Francis has been speaking to bishops' consciences. The talks, which run from Tuesday through Thursday, will be held in camera.

Without specifically addressing the situation in the South American country, the pope asked at his morning Mass Tuesday at the Vatican "that the Lord give us the grace to say goodbye". Francis referred to the farewell sermon of the Apostle Paul, with which the latter handed over responsibility for the Christian community in Ephesus.

He is thinking "of all bishops," the pope said. He prayed that each could leave office "with this spirit, this strength, this love for Jesus Christ, this confidence in the Holy Spirit". Referring to himself, Francis said, "I'm not going out of there a winner like Paul – but the Lord is kind, he is merciful."

Confidential three-day consultations

From Tuesday afternoon through Thursday, the pope will consult with 31 current bishops and three bishops emeritus about consequences of a decades-long abuse scandal in Chile. At ie are accusations against Bishop Juan Barros of Osorno and other bishops of covering up sexual offenses against minors and preventing them from being cleared up.

According to Gonzalez and the secretary general of the bishops' conference, Auxiliary Bishop Fernando Ramos of Santiago, the exact course of the three-day deliberations, which the pope wants to remain strictly confidential, was unknown even to the participants until Monday evening. Nor is it clear, he said, what information Francis has from the files of a Vatican special investigator. A joint mass is not planned.

"Pain and shame" over abuse

In a press conference Monday evening, representatives of the Chilean Bishops' Conference confessed "pain and shame" and acknowledged the need to improve self-criticism and prevention of abuse. But Bishop Juan Ignacio Gonzalez of the national church abuse commission also said his public defense of Barros during the pope's visit to Chile in January was an "act of charity".

There were "mistakes that should not have happened," said the secretary general of the Chilean Bishops' Conference, Auxiliary Bishop Fernando Ramos of Santiago, in Rome on Monday evening. A "spirit of renewal and change" is needed to overcome the crisis, Ramos said.

On the demand for concrete consequences, Ramos said these are "measures that the Holy Father must take". When asked about their wishes for a solution, Ramos and Gonzalez answered evasively that they were not entitled to a decision. He does not know whether bishops have already offered their resignation, Ramos said. – The press conference took place in the broadcasting house of Radio Vatican, without the Vatican informing about it.

Press conference but no statement from Francis

Francis said in advance he would not comment on the talks during or after the meeting. The Chilean bishops' press conference, which was also attended by Bishop Juan Ignacio Gonzalez as a representative of the national church abuse commission, took place at the Vatican Radio broadcasting house but was not announced by the Vatican.

Already two weeks ago, the Pope had spoken for several days with three victims of abuse of a Chilean priest. The latter subsequently expressed positive views about the talks with Francis, but also demanded clear and effective responses.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply