Pope Francis on clerical sexual
abuse: Always seek the truth
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| "Always seek the truth"_ Pope Francis' commitment to fighting the "plague" of clerical sexual abuse. |
The report on the clerical sexual abuse in Pennsylvania is a
tremendous shock for the Church in the United States. Three years ago, at the
World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, Pope Francis met with a group of
abuse victims, and made very strong statements about the need to fight against
these crimes.
By Alessandro Gisotti
“Victims should know that the Pope is on their side.” That
is one of the strongest passages in the statement released by Greg Burke, the Director
of the Holy See Press Office, following the Report from Pennsylvania on sexual
abuse of more than a thousand victims, perpetrated by over 300 priests. They
are words that recall what Pope Francis said three years ago when he met with a
group of abuse victims during the World Meeting of Families which took place in
Pennsylvania, in the city of Philadelphia.
Always follow the path of truth
“I deeply regret that some bishops failed in their
responsibility to protect children,” the Pope said at that meeting,
which took place no 27 September 2015. Turning to the survivors of abuse, he
admitted with sadness that “It is very disturbing to know that in some cases
bishops even were abusers.” He said, “I pledge to you that we will follow the
path of truth wherever it may lead. Clergy and bishops will be held accountable
when they abuse or fail to protect children.” And, he added, “Within our family
of faith and our human families, the sins and crimes of sexual abuse of
children must no longer be held in secret and in shame.”
We cannot hide these crimes
Later that day, speaking
to Bishops from around the world who were participating in the
Meeting in Philadelphia, Pope Francis repeated his commitment to battling the
plague of abuse. He said unequivocally, “The crimes and sins of sexual abuse of
minors may no longer be kept secret; I commit myself to ensuring that the
Church makes every effort to protect minors and I promise that those
responsible will be held to account.”
The abuse of minors is a sacrilege
Pope Francis returned to the question of sexual abuse by
clerics in response to questions
by reporters on the flight back to Rome following the visit to
Philadelphia. “When a priest commits abuse, it is extremely grave,” he said,
“because the vocation of the priest is to help that boy or girl to aim high, to
grow in the love of God, to grow to affective maturity and goodness. And
instead of that, he crushed them, which is evil. That is why it is practically
a sacrilege.” The Pope re-emphasized: “These things must not be covered up; and
those who covered them up are also guilty, even some bishops who covered them
up. It is a terrible thing.”
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