Michael KellyDublin Archbishop speaks at Anglophone conference in Rome
Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has warned that the Church’s credibility on abuse will be undermined if there are dioceses and orders not implementing guidelines.
Speaking in Rome at the Anglophone conference which brings together Church leaders from mostly English-speaking countries to address the issue of abuse, Dr Martin warned that “the Church which talks about a preferential option for the poor must show unflinchingly a preferential option for those who have been victims of abuse within its fold”.
He warned that “there are still within the Church some who play down the realities of abuse, or who take short cuts with regard to established norms and guidelines. In doing so, they damage the Church’s witness to the healing power of Jesus Christ”.
Norms
Archbishop Martin said “there is nothing more hurtful to survivors than to find the Church proclaiming norms and then to find that they are not being followed.”
He warned bishops that they cannot outsource the vital work of reaching out to survivors. “The Church can and should ensure adequate counselling for victims and their families. But it must do more.
“Healing cannot be delegated. The Church must become the bosom of Christ which lovingly embraces wounded men and women, with all the brutality and unattractiveness of wounds. Wounds cannot be sanitised from a distance,” he said.
The archbishop said that bishops and superiors “have to ensure that survivors are made feel truly welcome when they turn to Church authorities”.
The Anglophone Conference takes place this week in the Pontifical Irish College in Rome. This year the Irish bishops’ conference is co-hosting the event along with the Chilean bishops’ conference.
Experiences
The conference is designed to offer delegates an opportunity to share experiences and best practice throughout the English-speaking Catholic world.
Keynote speakers include Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and Bishop Alejandro Goic, Bishop of Rancagua and President of the Chilean Conference of Bishops. Marie Collins and Fr Hans Zollner SJ, members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, are also to address the conference as is Msgr Robert Oliver, the Promoter of Justice at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Dr Melissa Dermody, Clinical Director of Towards Healing, the counselling referral service for survivors of abuse in Ireland, is to speak on restorative practice with survivors.
The Irish delegation also includes Archbishop Eamon Martin, coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh; Teresa Devlin Chief Executive and John Morgan Chairman, National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland.