World’s bishops make progress in abuse response

Last updated on: February 7, 2013 at 12:02 am by CNA Daily News

World’s bishops make progress in abuse response 2013-02-07T00:02:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Rome, Italy, Feb 6, 2013 / 05:02 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Father Robert Oliver, the Vatican's new person responsible for investigating cases of clerical sex abuse, says that over three-quarters of the world’s bishops conferences have developed guidelines for cases of alleged abuse.

At the same time, Fr. Oliver recalled that Pope Benedict XVI asked “all institutions, without exception…to comply with standards in the protection of children and young people.”

The project of requiring every bishops' conference to create guidelines for responding to abuse allegations began with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issuing a circular letter to the world’s 112 episcopal conferences in May 2011.

Although Fr. Oliver only began his job on Feb. 1, he delivered remarks to a Feb. 5 conference that was held at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, under the title “Toward Healing and Renewal.”

He reported that of the 112 conferences “more than three-quarters” have sent or are close to sending their responses to the doctrine office.

The highest response rates were from South America, North America, Oceania and Europe. The remaining conferences are working with the Vatican’s doctrine department to complete the process.

The circular letter called for attention to five areas in developing guidelines: assistance to victims of sexual abuse; child protection; the formation of future priests and religious; support for the priests accused of or found guilty of abuse; and collaboration with civil authorities.

Fr. Oliver also made some general observations about the drafts the doctrine congregation has already received.

He noted that the personal example of the Pope in meeting with sex abuse victims and listening to their pain with compassion “is having a great effect.”

In his previous post in the Boston archdiocese, Fr. Oliver said that he heard from victims about the harm inflicted on them, and he also heard about the sense of alienation and abandonment that priests felt in the wake of scandals.

In addition to the conferences' guidelines, the Gregorian-based Center for Child Protection is running an online training module to promote the prevention of the sexual abuse of minors.

Both Fr. Oliver and Jesuit Father Hans Zollner, who also presented at the conference, agreed that responding to sexual abuse and protecting children require a sustained and concerted effort on the part of the Church.

Europe

Uncategorized

Previous Post

February 6, 2013

European People’s Party demands Cuba respect basic freedoms

Next Post

February 7, 2013 Boy Scouts delay vote on end of gay membership ban

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What Christian group refers to their leaders as "General Superintendents"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Orthodox Nazarene Methodist Catholic