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By Carol Zimmermann
BALTIMORE (CNS) – Twenty years ago, the big news at the General Assembly of Bishops in Dallas was the adoption of the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Youth,” which included comprehensive procedures for handling complaints of sexual abuse of minors. by the Catholic clergy.
At this year’s Nov. 14-17 gathering in Baltimore, they acknowledged the anniversary of the charter and said clergy have taken steps to combat sexual abuse and will continue to listen to, care for, and walk with survivors.
“The debt can never truly be repaid, but we continue to show forgiveness and vigilance,” the American bishops said in a letter to Pope Francis read at the start of their Nov. 15 meeting.
Letter – General Secretary of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Michael J.K. Read by Fuller – acknowledging the charter’s 20-year milestone, he said it was written in response to victims of abuse who felt they were not being heard. .
These survivors, the letter said, taught the bishops “how to better protect children and how to better serve survivors.”
It was not just a reference to the charter, nor to the work ahead for church leaders against sexual abuse by priests. The first day of the bishops’ public meeting ended with a reflection on the 20th anniversary of the Dallas Charter and a prayer for continued healing.
Mark Joseph Williams, survivor of priest sexual abuse, Cardinal Joseph W. of Newark, New Jersey. As Tobin’s special adviser, he thanked the bishops for their courage in adopting the charter twenty years ago.
“I am grateful and encouraged by the work you are doing to rid our beloved church of abuse,” he said, stressing that the charter was “necessary and prophetic.”
Williams, a management consultant and forensic social worker, was abused by a priest as a child. He told the bishops that many survivors of abuse are “lonely, wary and fearful.” They need God’s love and should be accompanied by church leaders as a synodal church, he added.
Based on his experience, he needed to rise above “abuse, addiction, and suicidal impulses” to find the grace that would allow him to forgive his abuser, but not excuse him.
Williams urged bishops to “listen to the voices of victims and survivors” and help them on their way to greater healing, noting that her healing came from “being heard when I cried out.”
“Thank you for standing with me and all the victims. Thank you,” he said.
The bishops greeted him with thunderous applause.
After he finished speaking, Cardinal Tobin told the bishops about his meeting with Williams and how he proposed to help address the abuse crisis “in a way that helps survivors and the scandalized faithful.”
The cardinal emphasized how church leaders must listen to those who are abused, sharing how they sometimes remain silent in the face of “accusations, insults and gut-wrenching screams.”
Responding to the suffering of survivors as a field hospital is what Pope Francis calls the Church to be in the world, a way to be an “instrument of grace,” he said.
Bishop James W. of Kansas City. Johnston Jr. Joseph, Missouri, chairman of the Children and Youth Advocacy Committee, told the bishops that the presentation they had just heard reminded them of where the church has been and its efforts to prevent history from repeating itself.
He said the past 20 years have been a period of growth, awareness, scrutiny and conversion as the church has worked to provide a safe environment and restore justice.
He apologized to those who were abused by the clergy and thanked survivors for having the courage to report the abuse and “helping to meet your needs.”
Bishop Johnston said the bishops reaffirmed their promise to protect and heal, acknowledging that there is still much pain and damage. He also said they will continue because “this is our mission” and not because of the path set by the charter 20 years ago.
Bishops read aloud prayers of hope and healing written by survivors of abuse.
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