New guidelines

adminonDecember 9, 2021January 5, 2022Leave a Comment

Abuse scandal in the church (symbol image) © Evandro Inetti

Bishops in Kerala, India, have reaffirmed their zero tolerance for abuse. In new guidelines, they call for cooperation with authorities and stress that sexual exploitation and abuse are "serious crimes and grave sins".

Catholic bishops in India's Kerala state take further steps in fight against clergy sexual abuse. These include instructions to immediately report sexual assaults to the appropriate state authorities, as reported by the Vatican news portal "Vatican News". The guidelines were sent to priests, churches, educational and religious institutions, and nursing homes throughout the state, according to the report. Kerala is the Indian state with the highest percentage of Christians in the world.

Removal of accused clergy

The bishops call for cooperation with authorities in investigating abuse cases and ensuring the avoidance of inappropriate physical contact with minors. Document stresses "sexual exploitation and abuse of children and vulnerable adults are serious crimes and grave sins".

For the first time, the guidelines provide for the removal from the clergy of clergy who are guilty of sexual assault. The bishops also recommend avoiding "night trips with children" and not taking photos when they are changing clothes.

Abuse allegations against bishop

The behavioral demands of the Council of Catholic Bishops of Kerala (KBC) are also connected with the case of the resigned bishop of Jalandhar (state of Punjab), Franco Mulakkal. He is under investigation in Kerala on charges of raping the former superior of the Congregation of the Missionaries of Jesus.

The president of the papal commission for the protection of children has stressed that victims of abuse must always come first. Boston Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley made remarks at a seminar on child protection at the Pontifical Gregorian University.

This is the basic principle of the commission; otherwise you will fail, said O'Malley according to the press service SIR (Thursday) in Rome. After accusations of lack of cooperation by Vatican authorities, the Irish abuse victim Marie Collins recently left the Pontifical Commission for Child Protection. This means that the now 16-member body no longer includes a victim. The second victim member, Briton Peter Saunders, had announced time off in February 2016 to reflect on his involvement; this continues to this day.

"Only the survivors can help us. We must not be lenient in our work and we must learn from experience and from our mistakes," O'Malley stressed. At the same time, he emphasized that abuse is not a specifically Catholic or clerical problem. Sexual abuse by priests, however, leads to even deeper wounds, he said.

"Eradicate sexual abuse"

"The Catholic world demands that we, its shepherds, take all steps to protect the children entrusted to our care," O'Malley said. Pope Francis has also emphasized this several times and is working seriously to "eradicate sexual abuse in the church," he said.

The seminar was entitled "Protective measures at home and at school: learning from experiences worldwide". It was organized by the Gregorian-based Center for Child Protection in collaboration with the Pontifical Commission for Child Protection.

Consultations on reforms – synodal way © Harald Oppitz (KNA)

About one year after the start of the Synodal Way, the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) draws a mixed interim balance. According to ZdK President Sternberg, among other things, communication with Rome should be improved.

There is still strong support in Germany's highest body of Catholic laity for dialogue on the future of church life, ZdK President Thomas Sternberg said Thursday evening. At the same time, however, there was an increase in critical inquiries that lacked a broader public debate both inside and outside the Church.

"Basic frustration"

Sternberg also spoke of a "basic frustration" that is spreading among many Catholics in light of the current debates about abuse processing in the Archdiocese of Cologne and the recent cases from Speyer that have come to light. This would also have an effect on the synodal way. At the same time, Sternberg emphasized that the Synodal Way is not the place to deal with the abuse scandal. "But in the forums and in setting the topics, we are taking care of the underlying problems that made this horrible abuse possible in the first place."

ZdK Vice President Karin Kortmann announced that at the next meeting of the Synodal Way at the beginning of February, an interim conclusion will be drawn on coming to terms with sexual abuse. The abuse commissioner of the German Bishops' Conference, Bishop Stephan Ackermann of Trier, has been asked to do this.

At the Synodal Way, bishops and laity want to discuss the future of church life in Germany. One goal is to regain trust lost after abuse scandal. The highest body is the Synodal Assembly, which consists of 230 members, but has only met once so far because of the Corona pandemic. On 4. and 5. February, synod members plan to share ideas in an online conference.

Communication with Rome

In Sternberg's view, the synodals should also work to improve their communication with Rome. He said he has the impression that "misconceptions" about Catholics in Germany are circulating in the Vatican, such as that two roughly equal groups of conservatives and progressives are "clashing" in Germany. In the process, a large majority is ready to go new ways, he said.

Kortmann and Sternberg speak at the digital ZdK Autumn Plenary Assembly. Due to time constraints, the Catholic Committee had decoupled the debate on the Synodal Way from the rest of the Plenary Assembly, which had already taken place at the end of November.

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