Michael Kelly
Archbishop Eamon Martin elected to key role
Michael Kelly in Rome
Pope Francis has warned Church leaders that the entire Catholic world is looking to a Vatican summit this week for decisive action on abuse.
Addressing the meeting on the protection of minors at the Vatican this morning (Thursday) the Pontiff told bishops and religious superiors that “the holy people of God are watching and are awaiting from us not simple, predictable condemnations, but concrete and effective measures” to stop abuse.
The summit meeting February 21-24 brought together almost 190 Church leaders: the presidents of national bishops’ conferences, the heads of the eastern Catholic Churches, superiors of some men’s and women’s religious orders and top Vatican officials.
Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh was elected as a relator on day one and will be responsible for bringing the thoughts of his 17-member English-language group to the floor of the plenary meeting.
In his brief opening remarks, the Pope prayed that with “docility” to the Holy Spirit, that the bishops at the summit would “listen to the cry of the little ones who ask for justice.”
Cardinal Luis Tagle of the Philippines gave the first formal talk of the gathering acknowledging how Church leaders ignored the suffering of the victims of clerical sexual abuse and covered up the crimes of the priest-perpetrators.
Sometimes, he said, bishops were simply afraid to look at the wounds caused by their priests, but he insisted that one cannot profess faith in Christ while ignoring the wounds inflicted on the people Jesus loves.
Using the Gospel stories of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances to the disciples, especially the story of Jesus inviting doubting Thomas to put his hands into the wounds on the Lord’s hands and side, Cardinal Tagle told the bishops, “those who are sent to proclaim the core of our Christian faith – the dying and rising of Christ – can only do so with authenticity if they are constantly in touch with the wounds of humanity.”
Often on the verge of tears, the cardinal insisted that the Church can never ask victims to forgive and move on – “no, far from it,” insisting that forgiveness is a gift that can never be earned.
Church leaders, he said, must “continue to walk with those profoundly wounded by abuse, building trust, providing unconditional love and repeatedly asking forgiveness in the full recognition that we do not deserve that forgiveness in the order of justice, but can only receive it when it is bestowed as a gift and grace.”
According to Archbishop Charles Scicluna, adjunct secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, insisted that “one of the fundamental tests of our stewardship and, indeed, of our fidelity,” is the way in which bishops and religious superiors exercise their ministry at the service of justice.
“It is our sacred duty to protect our people and to ensure justice when they have been abused,” he said.
Archbishop Scicluna said the “stewardship of prevention” also includes helping the Pope in the selection of candidates for the appointment of bishops.
“Many demand that the process be more open to the input of laypeople in the community,” he said. But it is a bishop’s and superior’s “sacred duty” to assist the Pope as he considers possible leaders.
He warned that the Church’s credibility rests on the bishops’ ability to tackle the issue if abuse. “The faith community under our care should know that we mean business,” he said.