Decades of clergy sexual abuse scandals are an “existential threat” to the Church and can only be remedied through transparency and prioritising survivors, according to the outgoing Australian ambassador to the Vatican. Source: NCR Online.
“Clerical abuse has resulted in lost credibility, a mounting devotional crisis and, it would not be hyperbolic to say, a real existential threat for the Catholic Church,” Chiara Porro said.
The ambassador made her remarks in a November 21 lecture at the Pontifical Gregorian University. The event offered the Australian diplomat an occasion to offer public reflections on the theme of safeguarding, which had been one of her top priorities during her four-year posting.
“Talking about child sexual abuse can be confronting and challenging. But as I have often said, it is absolutely indispensable, because child sexual abuse thrives on silence,” she said.
“Breaking that silence is a vital step to drive the society-wide effort we need to build a true culture of safety.”
The event was co-sponsored by the Australian Embassy to the Holy See and the Gregorian University’s Institute of Anthropology.
In attendance was the Vatican’s foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher; Cardinal Peter Turkson, chancellor of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences; and Cardinal Blase Cupich, who served as a lead organiser of Pope Francis’ 2019 summit on the protection of minors.
The evening provided the rare occasion for a diplomat to offer a candid assessment of one of the greatest challenges facing the Church, with both senior Vatican officials in attendance, along with representatives from leading abuse survivor advocate networks.
“The challenge for the Church, as would be for any institution, is to demonstrate that words are followed by actions and that the extent and pace of reform matches the dimension and urgency of the problem,” Ms Porro said.
In his closing reflections, Jesuit Fr. Hans Zollner – a leading safeguarding expert and director of the Institute of Anthropology – praised Ms Porro for her work in abuse prevention and awareness, as well as the thoroughness of the Australian royal commission’s findings.
The global Church, Fr Zollner said, now has “a lot to learn from Australia as an example of how to listen to survivors of clergy sexual abuse and how to bolster safeguarding efforts on a national and international level.”
FULL STORY
Australian ambassador: Clergy abuse an ‘existential threat’ for Catholic Church (By Christopher White, NCR Online)