Letters

Sex abuse crisis (letter)

Mark Reidy

Contents - Aug 2002 - Buy a copy now Editorial: The Assumption of Our Lady: 15 August - Michael Gilchrist Liturgy: New English Missal: Vatican sets guidelines for ICEL - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World - AD2000 Education: Beliefs and practices of Catholic students: the decline continues - Michael Gilchrist New program to apply Papal teachings in Melbourne Archdiocese - Michael Gilchrist Sexual abuse, celibacy and vocations: a response to the Church's critics - Fr Paul Stuart Events: Thomas More 2002 Winter School in Bendigo Helping Catholic school students to love the Church - Br John Moylan CFC New study of US seminary formation exposes fundamental flaws - John S. Webster Letters: Experts? (letter) - Jerome Gonzalez Letters: Church architecture (letter) - Tom King Letters: Women and the Church (letter) - Maureen Federico Letters: Sex abuse crisis (letter) - Mark Reidy Letters: Sexual sin (letter) - John H. Cooney Letters: Value for money? (letter) - L.L. Booth Letters: Dissent (letter) - Clair Tieppo Letters: 'New Catholicism' (letter) - Richard Congram Letters: Beyond 2000? (letter) - Mrs Peg Santamaria Letters: God's masculinity (letter) - John Davis Letters: Theological accuracy (letter) - Jan Chalmers Letters: Leaving it to God (letter) - Errol P. Duke Letters: Shakespeare (letter) - John A. Rayner Books: Dynamics Of World History, by Christopher Dawson - Michael Lynch (reviewer) Books: Abortion And Martyrdom, edited by Aidan Nichols - Tracey Rowland (reviewer) Music: 'Live Worship: Lifted', by Emmanuel Worship - Anthony Cappello (reviewer) Books: New Titles from AD Books Reflection: What Catholics should expect of their priests: men 'clothed in holiness' - Fr Fabian Duggan OSB

In this current crisis I believe our primary response must now be a refocusing on the teachings of Christ. While understanding that in our current world we must contend with a complex array of legalities, we must always respond with love, which is at the very core of our Christianity.

Dealing with the repercussions of abuse by our own clergy is a new experience and one which we are all trying to come to terms with and respond to as best we can.

I believe there needs to be the formation of a small committee of dedicated, practising, praying Catholics who have some experience in the area of sexual abuse and its post-traumatic effects.

I am sure that working parties have previously been formed regarding these issues. However, it would appear that their well-meaning focus on legal correctness and monetary compensation has overshadowed our Christian response of love.

I believe a more Christ-like answer would revolve around the training of teams of praying, volunteer Catholics within each diocese who would form support groups for the victims of sexual abuse by Church clergy or associates. These people would not provide or replace counselling as such, but would serve as a place of love and support.

The provision of monetary compensation is one aspect which requires much reviewing. Too often money is provided to victims who, due to their vulnerable condition, will use it to accelerate their spiral of self-destruction. Perhaps areas such as Trust Funds (managed), delayed payments or regular payments of smaller amounts could be considered.

Whatever the specific details, the response of our Church must be one of love. While we must be guided by the realities of the society in which we live, we must never compromise on our call to love. We must begin from the very foundation on which we are built and ask: What would Jesus do?

MARK REIDY
Pemberton, WA

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 15 No 7 (August 2002), p. 13