Among the important responsibilities of the Diocesan Bishop in his task of assuring the common good of the faithful and, especially, the protection of children and of the young, is the duty he has to give an appropriate response to the cases of sexual abuse of minors by clerics in his diocese. Such a response entails the development of procedures suitable for assisting the victims of such abuse, and also for educating the ecclesial community concerning the protection of minors. A response will also make provision for the implementation of the appropriate canon law, and, at the same time, allow for the requirements of civil law.
Since these are guidelines, not directives, the bishops are still left with the responsibility to follow them or not.
Those who have served as watchdogs and enforcement for the previous guidelines and safety precautions to protect children from victimization are not satisfied that guidelines are enough to change the atmosphere of secrecy or to protect children and teens from sexual predations or betrayal by church authorities.
They have good reason for doubting the sincerity and concern for victims of church authorities because cover-up, obscuring, legal maneuverings have continued since the first ‘guidelines’ were put in place. The church has continued to honor and promote some officials, and to keep priests who have been involved in the abuse and cover-ups and this also causes both the victims and the watchdogs to see the church as insincere and more concerned about the brotherhood of priests and the institution than the victims.
[url=http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/_documents/pope_church_abuse.pdf]HERE[/url] is an example of a communication between two high-level church officials, one whom you will recognize, that is notable for the lack of mention of the harm done to the children, only the potential harm to the reputation and the legal, not moral or spiritual, culpability of the church.
In all of this, very few (only about three catholic bishops and one catholic district attorney in Pennsylvania) have shown themselves to be true champions of children. This championship is a holy office instituted and modeled by the true Head and Builder of His Church, Jesus Christ.
(See Matthew 18:2-6, Mark 9:36-42, 10:15, Luke 9:48, 17:1-2, 18:16-17)
May the Lord smile upon and bless these and all other earthly champions of children and continue to bring the deeds of darkness to light.
[url=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_VATICAN_CHURCH_ABUSE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-05-16-13-53-32]Link[/url] to the AP story on this document.
[url=http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_press_releases/2011_press_releases/051511_ten_reasons_the_vaticans_new_abuse_guidelines_will_change_little.htm
]Link [/url]to the SNAP response which details reasons for the organization’s disappointment with the Vatican guidelines.
[url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110516/wl_nm/us_pope_abuse]Reuter’s[/url] has a much more hopeful interpretation of the guidelines.