Sexual abuse in the Church, the decision of the bishops of France on how to repair the damage
Yesterday, Monday 8 November, i bishops of France gathered in Lourdes they voted for important measures in the fight against sexual abuse in the Church.
From Tuesday 2 to Monday 8 November, in sanctuary of Lourdes the autumn plenary assembly of the bishops of France was held. It was an opportunity for the bishops to return to the report of the Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church (CIASE).
A little more than a month after the publication of this report, the bishops wanted to "place themselves under the Word of God which urges them to act by adopting measures so that the Church fulfills its mission in fidelity to the Gospel of Christ", and recognized their responsibilities in this context.
Sul CEF website a press release details the reform and the measures adopted by the Catholic organization. Starting with the creation of an independent national body for the recognition and reparation of sexual abuse in the Church, whose presidency will be entrusted to Marie Derain de Vaucresson, lawyer, official in the Ministry of Justice and former defender of children.
Furthermore, it was decided to ask Papa Francesco "To send a team of visitors to evaluate this mission as regards the protection of minors".
The bishops of France also announced that compensation for victims will be one of their priorities, even if it means drawing on the reserves of the dioceses and the Bishops' Conference, transferring real estate or making a loan if necessary.
Then, they pledged "to follow the work of the plenary assembly with the victims and other guests" to set up nine working groups "composed of laity, deacons, priests, consecrated persons, bishops", "men or women", whose titles are as follows:
- Sharing of good practices in the case of reported cases
- Confession and spiritual accompaniment
- Accompaniment of the priests involved
- Vocational discernment and formation of future priests
- Support for the ministry of bishops
- Support for the ministry of priests
- How to associate the lay faithful in the work of the Episcopal Conference
- Analysis of the causes of sexual violence within the Church
- Means of vigilance and control of the associations of the faithful who lead common life and of each group that leans on a particular charism.
Among the twelve "special measures" adopted in addition by the CEF, the bishops of France also voted for the creation of a national canonical criminal court that will take office in April 2022, or for the systematic verification of the criminal records of all pastoral workers , lay and not.
Source: InfoChretienne.com.