Hearing such reports, as well as, the knowledge of our own local history of sexual abuse and the recent media reports that our Archdiocese faces a class action lawsuit, seeking justice and compensation for, who knows, how many potential victims, causes all of us to react.
As Archbishop, I am angered, shocked and devastated in the face of this scandal of sexual abuse. Like many of you, I am ashamed. I resonate with those priests, especially the younger ones, as well as young adult Catholics, for whom this recent flurry of revelations, more than rattles their Catholic convictions. Together, however, we can get through this with God’s grace.
In 2005, Card. Ratzinger, who became Pope Benedict, referred to sexual abuse by clergy as “filth” in Christ’s Church, and as a betrayal by Christ’s disciples. In the past 25 years or so, we in Canada have had to face this filth and betrayal which indicates that the Church as a body is not well. The Church needs to face the sins and failures of some clergy and the complicity of some laity in order to heal, not only from the crisis of sexual abuse, but from its root causes, including the systemic failure of leadership.
There is no room for such criminal and counter-Christian behaviour at all levels of the Church. Reports of the extent of this crisis, and it’s clear that it is worldwide, are hammering home the message and the need for purification in the Church. In my time as Archbishop, I have often asked myself: How could those who make up the Church come to this state of contradicting the very purpose and mission of the gospel entrusted to us by Jesus Christ? I have often reflected upon and wondered about the causes of the culture of silence and the widespread practice of trying to cover-up the abuse; ignoring the victims, refusing to take their stories seriously and almost spontaneously going into defence of the “Church’s image.”
Pope Francis in a document made public today (August 20. 2018) not only seeks pardon for those failures, he also indicates that nothing is ever sufficient to overcome the harm done by sexual abuse to those who suffer from it. He also condemns the evil of clericalism as part of the problem which he says, “… nullifies the character of Christians…” and goes on to say that “no” to sexual abuse, is “an emphatic NO to all forms of clericalism”.
On October 2, 2009, in the context of an earlier chapter of the sexual abuse story facing the Church in Nova Scotia, I cried out “Enough is Enough! How much more can all of us take?” Today it is evident that the evil goes deeper than imagined and the need for change even more urgent. Are we able to face this call for personal and communal conversion? Are we able to suffer with those who suffer? Can we take the necessary steps as an assembly of the People of God to confess our sins, to undergo the transformation, which only God’s grace and concrete actions will bring about?
Pope Francis wrote to the whole Church with his letter, it’s not specifically for the Americans, the Australians, the Irish, the Chileans or the Canadians. It is addressed to the People of God because the sexual abuse crisis has affected all of us. Our Catholic credibility and identity needs to be rebuilt; our authority must become service and not power; the gospel must be recovered from all that has tarnished it.
How can we face this great challenge? It requires time and opportunities for people in their parishes to gather together, to pray and fast; to be open and clear; to condemn and acknowledge the evil of sexual abuse and to seek forgiveness and reconciliation. Do not be afraid of the truth, because only in the truth can we find new freedom. If anyone has been victim of such abuse, speak up and go to the authorities.
I invite our pastors to address this state of ill health in the Church and to denounce the evil which has so devastated so many innocent people. If God has allowed this scourge to impact our Church, it is no doubt, to wake us up from complacency and to move us to action.
Let us pray for all the victims of sexual abuse, for their families and friends; as well as all our faithful priests and people, who struggle every day to overcome their sense of shame. May we all be healed by asking and granting the forgiveness and mercy of Jesus Christ.
Sincerely,
†Anthony Mancini
Archbishop of Halifax-Yarmouth
