Archbishop Scicluna: 'how I would
explain the Motu proprio to my flock'
On Thursday, 9 May 2019, Pope Francis’ Motu proprio,
"Vos estis lux mundi" - "You are the light of the world" -
which establishes new procedures for reporting abuse and violence, and ensures
that Bishops and Religious Superiors are held accountable for their actions,
was presented at the Holy See Press Office.
By Linda Bordoni
Metropolitan Archbishop Charles Jude Scicluna of
Malta, Adjunct Secretary at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, was
on hand at a 'meeting point' to present the new document to the media at the
Holy See Press Office.
Archbishop Scicluna, who was deeply involved in the
preparation of the document, used simple language to explain how he would
illustrate the document to his flock.
“If you really love the Church, you need to report
misconduct; if you report misconduct, you are going to be protected; victims
should know that there is an obligation on the part of the Church to listen to
them, to support them, to give them the help they need,” he said.
No one is above the law
Archbishop Scicluna added that “When it comes to your
Archbishop: I’m not above the law: if I commit misconduct you have the duty to
go to the nuncio, or to my brother bishop, and report me”.
“If they don’t listen, redirect to the Holy See. There is a
procedure where I will be investigated. You should be informed about it,” he
said.
The archbishop also said that “lay people from my flock
could also be called to help in the investigation: you need to know that I am
at your service, I am not above the law.”
Transparency and accountability
Regarding a widespread call for transparency, Scicluna said
transparency comes from empowering people to disclose crime, but also engaging
people in investigating crime.
“Because transparency can be a nice word, but it really has to
be translated into concrete norms,” he said.
‘Motu proprio’ result of teamwork
Asked who was actually involved in preparing the document,
Archbishop Scicluna said there was a good team from so many different
departments - or congregations - of the Holy See: “it is the result of
teamwork, of hard work”.
It was definitely not, he reiterated, produced just by the
CDF: “we work as a team!”
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