CCCB taskforce report on clergy sexual abuse.

Ottawa, ON -- In 1992, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) published From Pain to Hope (see www.cccb.ca and click on Backgrounders), its study on the issue of sexual abuse of minors by Canadian Catholic clergy. Two years ago, the CCCB established a Taskforce to review the document and propose changes. That report, released in September 2005, shows that the Canadian bishops have not done a good job at all in addressing the abuse crisis.

The victims

Victims contacted were critical of the "management and orientation of the institutional Church ... as well as the way the Catholic bishops of Canada had implemented the recommendations in From Pain to Hope." The victims perceived that the Church's actions were more directed toward preserving financial and pastoral integrity and shielding the clergy, than in helping them. They complained that, in many cases, abusing priests were allowed to continue to minister to children. They felt that they were "double victims"--in being sexually abused and then in being confronted by and then excluded by the Church that they thought would protect and support them. They complained that some dioceses showed no compassion towards victims seeking financial reparation; and, finally, where the legal process was prolonged by Church officials, victims reported an "impression of contempt [by the Church] for the victims."

The 1992 report

What should be shocking and distressing to all parishioners in Canada is that the general assumption that the bishops had implemented the recommendations of From Pain to Hope is false. The recommendations of the 1992 report were just that--recommendations. There was no mechanism in place to enforce the report. In a few dioceses, there was no plan in place to deal with sexual abuse of minors by clergy. There was, and is, nobody to oversee the plans and activities of the diocese in this sensitive issue. In many cases, bishops were unwilling to communicate with the victims, the clergy and the parishioners on policies and procedures they were implementing. And, finally, From Pain to Hope was never adopted by the individual bishops as official policy.

The Taskforce report

In an attempt to strengthen the 1992 report, the Taskforce recommends that each diocesan bishop be invited to make a personal commitment to the recommendations of the report; that there be greater diocesan transparency and each bishop be personally accountable; that new preventive measures (including security clearances and training) be mandatory for all those working with children in a parish; that the bishop's annual report be made public; that any member of the clergy or pastoral staff found guilty of sexual assault be banned from all public ministry; and that the living conditions of clergy be reviewed.

Comment

Even with all these recommendations there are issues missing. The victims of past abuses (and their families) seem to have been forgotten once their input was documented for the Taskforce report. Their past and immediate needs must be addressed in a full and compassionate manner so that healing can take place and they can feel some measure of security in the Catholic Church that let them down so badly.

The word "prayer" is never mentioned in the report. Prayer is necessary for the victims, the abusive clergy, and all those who conspired (knowingly or unknowingly) against victim reparation. All Catholics need to pray earnestly not only that justice will be done, but that compassion will be extended to those affected.

As LifeSiteNews reported on Sept. 26, 2005, the words "homosexual," "homosexuality," and "dissent" do not appear. Evidence from U.S. cases shows that over 80% of priestly sexual abuse has been of teenage boys and young adolescent men. And homosexuality is still not countered decisively amoung seminarians (See "Homosexuality and the priesthood" under Vatican, pp. 25-26).