Towards Healing and Renewal is the title of a conference on child sexual abuse which is being organized by Gregorian University in Rome with the support of the Vatican. The conference is in Rome Feb 6-9 and includes representatives from a large number of Catholic organizations and Vatican offices. I’m not sure exactly what it says that the Pope will not be in attendance. But it does seem to be typical of the distance the Pope tends to approach the subject with. As such, my expectations are low. Still, this is golden opportunity. Having spent a little bit of time on the edge of the political landscape I can understand why the Pope might watch this from a safe distance.
If this is the first you have heard of this conference that has representatives of over 100 Bishops, I’m sure it’s not a coincidence. The Catholic Church has made so many missteps in dealing with child sexual abuse, as well as being the source of more than their fair share, that they can’t afford another black eye. If the conference come up with a bold direction that can reposition the church as a defender of children, the Pope has a ready entrance to step in and solidify the message. If it falls short, the Pope continues to support efforts to ensure the safety of children and recognizes there is still more work to be done. Leaving the Pope out of the equation also allows the conference to go forward without making the front page of CNN.
Making it all ok
Welcome to the safe road in dealing the sexual abuse. Everyone’s political ass is covered. Sadly this is not part of the recipe for real change. Here’s what I’d like to see happen. Two days of stalemate discussions trying to figure out the best way to limit legal exposure with all the abuse cases. Enter the Pope on day 3. The Pope announces that no-one leaves until they have a comprehensive plan for dealing with abusive priests, protecting children, and supporting victims. On the fourth day, the Pope announces the plan to the world. It’s not perfect, but it sets a new standard within the church and restores the faith of many Catholics who feel betrayed by their church. Or at least that’s how it would play out in the movie version. I guess we’ll have to see what happens in the real world next week.
Let us know if we can help you dealing with your family’s sexual abuse victim situation. For ideas to get started please check out our book on what to do during the early days after disclosure.
