Men and women religious feel shame for failures on abuse
By Robin Gomes
“We ask pardon of all for our failures and repeat that we stand with the Holy Father. We commit our efforts to
The International Union of Superiors General (UISG), which brings together the superiors general of institutes of Catholic women religious, and the Union of Superiors General (USG) that brings heads of men’s religious institutes, issued a joint declaration on Tuesday expressing their full support for the Meeting on the Protection of Minors, called for by Pope Francis.
Children - most vulnerable
“In our work as religious, we come across many situations where children are abused, neglected, maltreated and unwanted,” the religious superiors wrote. “We see child soldiers; the trafficking of minors; the sexual abuse of minors; the physical and emotional abuse of minors. They cry out to us.”
As adults, as Christians and as religious they said they “want to work so that their lives are changed and that the situations in which they are brought up are improved.”
They underscored the vulnerability of these children which they said makes them “dispensable, to be used and abused.”
Abuse of authority
The religious superiors noted that
"We bow our heads in shame at the realization that such abuse has taken place in our congregations and orders, and in our Church." “Our shame is increased by our own lack of realization of what has been happening,” and those in authority “failed to see warning signs or failed to take them seriously.”
Change
The religious superiors acknowledge that 3-day Vatican meeting is a short time, but they expressed their trust in the power of the Holy Spirit that with the winds of change blowing through the Church and goodwill on all sides, important processes and structures of accountability can be started and those already in place can be reinforced.
“The abuse of children is wrong anywhere and anytime: this point is not negotiable,” they emphasized.
Areas of work
Following the example of Pope Francis, the men and women religious commit themselves to "humbly acknowledge and confess the wrongs that have been done; to reach out to survivors; to learn from them how to accompany those who have been abused and how they wish” their stories be heard.
The UISG and USG identified 3 areas where children are treasured and where their safety is promoted – in education and health care,
The many schools and hospitals that the religious orders run can ensure better protocols and higher standards of protection of minors.
The protection of minors and adults can be integrated into the formation programme of religious institutes. “It must be clear that whatever the culture and background, the abuse of children is never permitted or tolerable,” they stressed.
The religious superiors also intend that their spirituality centres develop special outreach programmes to any survivor who wishes to find help in their struggles with faith and meaning.” Even though some of the abuse victims would want to stay far from the Church, the religious would like to humbly accompany those survivors who want to make a journey of healing with them.
“Those who have been abused often carry a sense of guilt, shame and even sin. In reality, however, they are the ones who have been sinned against,” the religious superiors said.
Working, walking together
“We want to act with humility. We want to see our blind spots. We want to name any abuse of power. We commit to engage in a journey with those we serve, moving forward with transparency and trust, honesty and sincere repentance.”
The heads of religious orders want to work with parents, especially mothers, in fighting abuse. They acknowledged that their attempt to deal with abuse showed a “shameful lack of capacity to understand” their pain of the victims. While offering them their sincerest apologies and sorrow, they invited them to work with them to help minimize risks.
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