Collins’ welcome for liturgy for survivors of abuse

Leading anti-abuse campaigner Marie Collins has welcomed an initiative of the Church in Ireland to roll-out special liturgies for victims and survivors across parishes around the country.

Ms Collins – who formerly advised Pope Francis on the issue – told The Irish Catholic she believed that liturgies of atonement for survivors of abuse can have real value.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s (February 15) annual Day of Prayer for Survivors and Victims of Sexual Abuse, Dubliner Ms Collins said there are survivors for whom such ceremonies can be profoundly important.

Sensitive

“I think you have to be sensitive to everybody’s view, and survivors are not a homogenous group. There are those who have stayed with the Church who say it’s important to them, and their view needs to be respected and given a voice,” she said.

“It would have no value at all if it was just for optics, but if there’s sincerity in it, it has meaning for these survivors,” she said.

The liturgy came about, she explained after a Canadian survivor petitioned the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors with the idea, with Pope Francis subsequently urging bishops’ conferences to introduce the day.

Candles of atonement to be lit in cathedrals around Ireland were blessed by the bishops during their retreat in Knock last week. Primate of All-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin has said he hopes the initiative will be taken up by many parishes to light the candle and pray for those whose trust has been betrayed by the Church.

“We’re hoping that in all of our cathedrals and indeed in many of the parish churches throughout the country, priests and people would light a candle to remember those who’ve been abused and to pray for them and to be conscious of the hurt that has been caused to them within the Church,” he told The Irish Catholic.

Outreach

“The prayer for the candle of atonement has been written by a survivor, and it, I know, would mean a lot to her and to many survivors if we didn’t forget them.

“Remember that they are part of the body of Christ that is the Church, and they need our support and our outreach, so I commend the initiative to everyone,” he said.