The Sexual Abuse Crisis
Still Unhealed: Treating the Pathology in the Clergy Sexual Abuse Crisis
Sr. Nuala Kenny, SC. OC, MD
(Published September 1, 2019)
The sexual abuse of children and youth by Catholic clergy is the greatest scandal of the modern church. It has caused devastating, life-long harm to victim-survivors and to the entire Body of Christ. For many, it has precipitated a crisis of faith and a loss of credibility and trust in the Church and its leaders. How ought disciples of Jesus Christ respond to this profound contradiction to his words and witness? Buy the Book at Novalis
Reckoning-Where Are They Now story
Associated Press
(November 27, 2019)
Nearly 1,700 priests and other clergy members that the Roman Catholic Church considers credibly accused of child sexual abuse are living under the radar with little to no oversight from religious authorities or law enforcement, decades after the first wave of the church abuse scandal roiled U.S. dioceses, an Associated Press investigation has found. (read more)
Canadian clergy-abuse survivors lobby for Catholic Church reforms, disclosure around accused priests
Tavia Grant The Globe and Mail
(September 23, 2019)
Canadian clergy-abuse survivors gathered in Cornwall, Ont., this week to lobby for reforms, asking Catholic Church leadership to boost disclosure, publish the names of credibly accused priests in the country and create external oversight to monitor how the church handles sexual-abuse claims.(read more)
To Be Church Together
Joan Chittister Joan Chittister.org
I’m beginning to wonder if we’ve been overlooking the real meaning, the ultimate impact, of two of the most powerful lines of scripture: “And a little child shall lead them” or, alternatively, “Let the little ones come unto me.” Pedophilia, the abuse of children, has finally unmasked for all to see the operational principles of an organization that has been able for years to ignore, reject-- even disdain--the cries of multiple other groups of the ignored and abused. (read more)
The Spirit and the Letter
James Hanvey SJ La Croix
(August 27, 2018)
Pope Francis' letter 'To the People of God' marks a definitive moment in the Church's life.
The pope decries 'the deep wounds of pain', in the victims and in the Church, arising from sexual abuse perpetrated by priests, bishops and cardinals, and asks for a profound transformation of hierarchical and presbyteral culture. This is a task that can only be accomplished by the whole People of God. (read more)
Letter to a Suffering Church
Bishop Robert Barron
(Published 2019)
The sexual abuse scandal has gripped the Catholic Church for the past thirty years, and continues to wreak havoc even today. It’s been a diabolical masterpiece, one that has compromised the work of the Church in every way and has left countless lives in ruin. Many Catholics are understandably asking, “Why should I stay? Why not abandon this sinking ship before it drags me or my children under?” (Buy the book here)
How to teach a university course on the abuse crisis?
Ten open questions that help provide some perspective on what it means to do scholarship on this phenomenon.
Massimo Faggioli La Croix
(August 6, 2019)
The clergy sex abuse crisis is redefining the role and position of many people in the "locus" of the faith that is the Church — hierarchical leaders, clergy and laity, activists, journalists, the police, lawyers, judges and politicians. (read more)
Protecting Minors from Sexual Abuse:
A Call to the Catholic Faithful in Canada for Healing, Reconciliation, and Transformation
CCCB (Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops)
(October 4, 2018)
First and foremost, this document focuses on minors and vulnerable adults, whom Canada’s Bishops wish to protect from sexual violence. In addition to a clear delineation of procedures in cases of sexual abuse, it puts forward 69 recommendations inspired by nine lessons which Bishops have learned through their collective experiences over the past quarter century. Chief among these is that victims must come first. (read more) (read the document)
Child Protection: From awareness to engagement
Federico Lombardi, SJ La Civilta Cattolica
(January 22, 2019)
In 2011 the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith sent all episcopal conferences a circular letter asking them to set out guidelines on how to address cases of sexual abuse by members of the clergy in light of the canonical norms renewed by Benedict XVI. So began an important process of reflection and writing that is still ongoing in dialogue with the Congregation, which receives the drafts from different parts of the world and offers observations, mainly on the canonical aspects. (read more)
Sylvia’s Site
Blogging the sex abuse scandal and betrayals of trust in the Roman Catholic Church in Canada.
The Catholic Church is tightening rules on reporting sexual abuse – but not swearing off its legal privilege to keep secrets
Christine P. Bartholomew The Conversation
(May 22, 2019)
Pope Francis recently changed the Catholic Church law, making it mandatory for clergy to report sexual abuse to church superiors. In the past, such reporting was left to the discretion of a priest or nun. (read more)
Report on Clergy Sexual Abuse
Pastoral Letter from J. Michael Miller, CSB Archbishop of Vancouver
Read the Pastoral Letter
(November 2019)
Vatican Abuse Summit, Featured Series from NCR
NCR Editorial Staff
(September 2018 to March 2019)
New report addresses church's 'twin crises' of sex abuse, leadership failure
Brian Roewe NCR Online
(March 1, 2019)
Just days after the close of the Vatican abuse summit, a prominent U.S. Catholic group has released wide-ranging recommendations to address what it calls the "twin crises" of sexual abuse and leadership failures in the church. (read more)
Clerical abuse – The Colonial Factor
Kathleen Holscher The Tablet
(April 4, 2019)
Our understanding of the Church’s crisis has been framed by reports that link sex abuse to white, urban Catholic communities, but as an American historian points out, disturbing accounts of abuse by priests in Native communities in the United States challenge us to think differently
The success of Pope Francis' new sex abuse reporting rules depends on enforcement
Thomas Reese NCR Online
(May 10, 2019)
Learning from what he calls "the bitter lessons of the past," Pope Francis has issued the most comprehensive response of his papacy to the sex abuse crisis.
The new document requires bishops, priests and religious to report sexual abuse and cover-ups to church officials and sets up new procedures for investigating bishops.
Pope Issues First Rules for Catholic Church Worldwide to Report Sex Abuse
Jason Horowitz NYTimes
(May 9, 2019)
ROME — Pope Francis on Thursday issued the first law (VOS ESTIS LUX MUNDI) obligating officials in the Roman Catholic Church worldwide to report cases of clergy sexual abuse — and attempts to cover it up — to their superiors. The decree was Francis’ long-anticipated concrete response to address a crisis that has devastated the church and clouded his legacy.
Abuse on the Margins
Stephen P. White The Catholic Thing
(August 29, 2019)
Sexual abuse is a plague no matter where it occurs or to whom. But one of the underexplored facets of the clerical sexual abuse crisis in the United States is the way in which marginalized and minority communities have proven particularly susceptible both to abusers themselves and to the malfeasance of bishops and religious superiors who mishandled reports of abuse. (read more)
Catholic bishops not obliged to report clerical child abuse, Vatican says
Stephanie Kirchgaessner Church and State
(February 10, 2016)
The Catholic church is telling newly appointed bishops that it is “not necessarily” their duty to report accusations of clerical child abuse and that only victims or their families should make the decision to report abuse to police. (read more)
Other Resorces
Better, but still not good enough, The Tablet 16 May 2019
Interpreting the abuse scandal in the Church Antonio Spadaro SJ Editor La Civilta Cattolica