Dear Sir,
Pope Francis has given his first speech on clergy sexual abuse today. He directs that 'decisive action' be taken against sex offending clergy, that they should be punished and victims 'helped'. All this is for the good of the Church and it's message.
There is nothing new in this rethoric. It is the same old message that clergy sexual abuse is about the individual sex offender clergy's responsibility.
Pope Francis neatly sidelines and ignores the practice and culture of secrecy, cover-up, movement of clergy from parish to parish, Diocese to Diocese and from Country to Country which enabled hundreds and thousands of victims to be violated by those clergy they supported.
Pope Francis could have, today and given us a real message of 'action';
"We will admit our role in the violation of our children, we will accept responsibility for our actions in the past, we will uncover and unmask the secrets in our files, cupboards and desk drawers, we will not harbour the abusers, we will co-operate with solicitors, police and courts, we will not stand behind lawyers seeking to hide the truth, we will reach out to victims, we will give them hope, we will create ways of real mending of the broken pieces in their lives...we will change our ways."
Now that would have been the message of change from the Vatican. It looks, from our perspective, today, that this Pope's humility in his dress, his actions and his words does not extend to actions calling Bishops and Cardinals to account for what they did. Nor is there any admission of the Vatican's role in clergy sexual violation of children...
This is hugely disappointing, from a man who appeared capable of turning the tables in the temple.
Yours Sincerely
Dr Margaret Kennedy
Founder MACSAS www.macsas.org.uk
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