PM’s apology to victims of abuse
welcomed by Church in Australia
People watch Australian prime Minister Scott Morison deliver a national apology to victims of institutional sexual abuse.- ANSA |
Leaders of both the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
(ACBC) and the Catholic Religious of Australia (CRA) issue a joint statement
welcoming Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s apology to victims of abuse.
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp
Welcoming Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s apology to victims
of institutional child sexual abuse, leaders of the Church in Australia issued
a joint statement on Monday. Both the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
(ACBC) and Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) state that they also recommit
themselves “to working with the community to eliminate the scourge of child
sexual abuse”.
Church reaction
On behalf of the Bishops, Archbishop Mark Coleridge
characterized abuse suffered by children as “an utter betrayal of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ, and it should never have happened”.
Sr Monica Cavanaugh, representing Australia’s men and women
religious, said,
“The National Apology today and the apologies made by
institutions during the life of the Royal Commission and since have been an
important validation of the courage of survivors of abuse in seeking truth,
justice and healing. We think first of them at this time.”
Prime Minister's apoloy
The statement came after Australia’s Prime Minister
delivered a moving national apology to victims.
“Today, Australia confronts a trauma, an abomination
hiding in plain sight for far too long. We must be so humbled to fall before
those who were forsaken and beg to them our apology…a sorry that speaks only of
profound grief and loss. As a nation, we failed them, we forsook them, and that
will always be our shame… The crimes of ritual sexual abuse happened in
schools, churches, youth groups, scout troops, orphanages, foster homes,
sporting clubs, group homes, charities, and in family homes as well…. To
the children we failed, sorry. To the parents whose trust was betrayed and who
have struggled to pick up the pieces, sorry. To the whistleblowers who we did
not listen to, sorry. To the spouses, partners, wives, husbands, children who
have dealt with the consequences of abuse cover ups and obstruction, sorry. To
generations past and present, sorry.”
The Prime Minister’s apology came after a 5-year national
inquiry. This inquiry uncovered that tens of thousands of children suffered
sexual abuse in the institutions mentioned by the Prime Minister.
Making Australia safe
In response to the national apology made by Prime Minister
Morrison, local events have been planned by Catholic dioceses, communities,
schools, ministries and agencies. Archbishop Coleridge called these events “a
significant moment in our ongoing efforts to make Australia safe for all
children and young people”.
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