Chilean Bishops express pain and
shame over abuse
Pope Francis is currently holding a series of closed-door
meetings with the Bishops of Chile to formulate a response to the abuse crisis
that has rocked the Church in that country. The discussions are being attended
by 31 diocesan and auxiliary bishops and 3 emeritus bishops, and will be
ongoing until May 17th.
Press conference of two Chilean bishops
On the eve of the meeting, two Chilean bishops held a press
conference in Rome. They are Bishop Fernando Ramos, Auxiliary Bishop of
Santiago and General Secretary of the Chilean Episcopal Conference, and Bishop
Juan Ignacio González of San Bernardo.
Called by the Pope
Archbishop Ramos recalled Pope Francis’ letter
of April 8th with which he summoned the bishops to the
Vatican. He explained how the Bishops have come specifically: “To receive the
conclusions of the report by Archbishop Scicluna following his visit to Chile,
and also to discern short, medium and long term measures to restore communion
and justice”. These, according to the General Secretary of the Bishops’
Conference were “the two great themes to which the Holy Father invited us with
his letter".
Discerning responsibilities
Speaking at the press conference in Rome, Archbishop Ramos
said the content of the meetings with the Pope would include: “The issues of
abuse of power, abuse of conscience, and sexual abuse, that have occurred in
recent decades in the Chilean Church, as well as the mechanisms that led, in
some cases, to concealment and serious omissions against the victims. A second
point is to share the conclusions the Holy Father drew from Archbishop
Scicluna’s report. And a third point is the Pope's invitation to make a long
synodal process of discernment to understand the responsibilities of each and
every one regarding these terrible wounds of abuse, and to seek necessary
changes so that they are not repeated".
Pain and shame
Archbishop Ramos spoke of the Bishops’ feeling of “pain and
shame”. “Pain”, he said, “because unfortunately there are victims: there are
people who are victims of abuse and this causes us profound pain. And shame,
because these abuses occurred in Church environments which is precisely where
this type of abuse should never occur".
Forgiveness and reparation
Archbishop Ramos continued: "We must ask forgiveness 70
times 7. I think it is a very important moral imperative for us. The important
thing is that the request for forgiveness is truly reparatory". He
concluded: "In all humility we will listen to what the Pope will tell us";
this is "a very important moment" for the renewal of the Chilean
Church.
Pope Francis as an example for the Chilean bishops
Also speaking at the press conference, Bishop González said
the Chilean bishops see Pope Francis as an example for having admitted his
mistakes, for asking forgiveness, and for meeting with the victims. The victims
are the center of our attention, he said, and for this reason the Church in
Chile must work towards reparation, with humility and hope, following the
teaching of Jesus.
Restoring trust in the Church
When it announced the meeting with the Chilean bishops, in a
communiqué on May 12th, the
Vatican Press Office explained that "it is fundamental to restore
trust in the Church through good Pastors who witness with their lives that they
have heard the voice of the Good Shepherd, and who know how to accompany the
suffering of the victims, and work in a determined and tireless way in the
prevention of abuse. The Holy Father thanks his brother Bishops for their
willingness to stand in docile and humble listening to the Holy Spirit, and he
renews his request to the People of God in Chile to continue to pray for the
conversion of all". The communiqué concluded by confirming that the Pope
will not be issuing any statements, either during or after the meetings, “which
will take place in absolute confidentiality".
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