Institutional resistance to combatting abuse in the Catholic Church. Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors thinking about Rupnik but don't dare to name him.

There is institutional resistance to combating abuses in the Church

In a particularly vigorous document, in which it calls for urgent action, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (CPPM) denounces the continuation of cases of abuse, cover-up and mismanagement on the part of those responsible for the Catholic Church and asks new cardinals and members of the Synod on Synodality to include this matter in the work about to begin.

“Every day new evidence of abuse seems to emerge, as well as of cover-up and mismanagement on the part of those responsible for the Church around the world”, the Commission’s statement begins by highlighting, alluding not only to those cases that “are the subject of intense dissemination” in the media, but also those that are less known or remain silent.

Stressing that it is not just about “betrayal of the abusers, but of the ecclesiastical institution itself”, the CPPM notes: “all abuses involve the anguish and pain of a terrible betrayal, not only on the part of the abuser, but also on the part of of a Church unable, or even unwilling, to recognize the reality of its actions”.

The Vatican Commission cites, without naming, “recent publicly reported cases” that “point to tragically damaging deficiencies in the norms designed to punish abusers and hold accountable those who have a duty to combat wrongdoing” that apply to the latest news on the consequences of the abuse of Father Marko Rupnik, extensively covered on 7MARGENS.

“There continues to be unacceptable resistance” which “points to a scandalous lack of determination on the part of many in the Church, which is often aggravated by a serious lack of resources”, denounces the document.

It recognizes, in this regard, that, five years after the 2019 Summit on the Protection of Minors, which brought together Catholic leaders from all over the world, the Church has not been able to “correct the flaws in procedures that leave victims injured and in ignorance, both both during and after the cases have been decided.”

Victims should be able to intervene in the Synod

In this line of accountability of the Church, the text continues:

“We have heard and been disturbed by the reports of the actions of people in positions of responsibility in the Church, by the cries of those affected, as well as by the legacy of atrocious behavior associated with lay and other movements and so many areas of the institutional life of the Church . We are deeply shaken by the immense pain, lasting suffering and revictimization experienced by so many people, and we unequivocally condemn the crimes and their impunity, perpetrated against so many of our brothers and sisters.”

Addressing in particular the members of the synodal assembly who will begin the first session of the Synod on October 4th, the Commission warns that effective change in this field will not occur “without the conversion of Church leaders” and expresses the understanding that , by its nature, the reality of sexual abuse “is at the center of the Synod’s agenda”, and must be included in debates on “leadership models, ministerial roles, professional standards of behavior and ways of being correctly related to each other” .

“We urge you to dedicate significant time and space to integrating the testimony of victims/survivors into your work” of the Synod – is the final appeal of the Pontifical Commission.

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