News The Pope Said Something Very Powerful About The Sexual Abuse Of Children

[shimmerz]

"God weeps for sexual abuse of children,” Francis said during the speech. “These cannot be maintained in secret. I commit to a careful oversight to ensure that youth are protected and that all responsible will be held accountable..."

Rhetoric. How will they be held accountable, and more importantly, how will the children of TODAY be kept safe from clergy? What is the plan?

When he actions on the plan then I can say he means it. How many times have we fallen for words? Great that he says it was wrong.... (as per this post). Yes, very validating. What does 'very careful oversight' mean? Shouldn't that have been a given for every Pope, every Pastor? Make an example of the clergy who have been doing this.... and a clear one. So tired of political yes-saying.

 

[BlackbirdSinging]

I think we all know we can't change even our own pasts. But we are not used to (well I'm not) thinking of surviving stuff as indicative of culminating in, or being referred to as (I) have 'great value'. (Quite the opposite. Wow.) Very different from what @BlackbirdSinging 's experiences (& my own, including self-reflection/ self-rejection) have been below:



I (humbly) say I think that's possibly what she meant as the focus in this thread originally.

You are exactly right @Junebug that was exactly my focus for this thread when I posted it. Thank you for seeing that and acknowledging it.

I don't have any experiences with anyone from the clergy that I can speak from. And I don't deny or try to pretend downplay or invalidate what has happened within churches the clergy and whatever should have happened that didn't.

My entire point in posting this thread had almost nothing to do with any church. My point was that when I was a very young child I was molested by a close family friend. I didn't tell what happened to me out of fear. I felt rejected and full of shame. For years I dealt with nightmares fear shame and paranoia on my own. I wondered what if any my value could possibly be.

When I finally got the courage in my early twenties to tell what happened to me I was yelled at and blamed. All of the rejection and the fear of rejection that I was afraid of for all of those years was validated. I felt like I should have stayed silent. I felt alone with everything again. I felt depressed and ashamed.

And then I saw someone like the Pope who in ways I don't fully comprehend is close to God in a way say “God weeps for sexual abuse of children,” Francis said during the speech. “These cannot be maintained in secret. I commit to a careful oversight to ensure that youth are protected and that all responsible will be held accountable... Those who have survived this abuse have become true heralds of mercy -- humbly, we owe each of them our gratitude for their great value as they have had to suffer this terrible abuse sexual abuse of minors," I felt validated. It made me feel like God was there cared and wept for the pain I went through and continue to be affected by. His statement while true or false in the eyes of some told me outright that I have value. And I was grateful to hear that. And for me it was powerful to hear that. Especially from someone in such a position.

Finally I can take words about my value and apply them right where it hurts. I have value. Not because the Pope said so. I have value because God says so and the Pope repeated it. I can't and don't try to speak for anyone else. I only say that finally someone said exactly what I needed to hear. And for whatever reason this time I was able to absorb it and realize that I have value.

 

[Tinyflame]

Yes @BlackbirdSinging you most definitely do. :hug: :hug:

 

[BlackbirdSinging]

Yes @BlackbirdSinging you most definitely do. :hug: :hug:

Thank you @Junebug hugs to you.

 

[deer_in_headlights]

Just to try to hopefully add some positive news to this discussion (but please forgive me because I can't give a lot of details, and don't have the stamina to stay with this).

I came into the Catholic Church after marriage, but while growing up, experienced a large sampling of faith and no-faith based traditions, so I hope I'm coming from an abused but moderately unbiased POV.

I know there are real shits in the Catholic hierarchy. I have encountered several.

Something good has been happening in our diocese, ever since the high-profile cases came out in Boston, several years ago. I have a very good friend, knowing my SA trauma background, in a good position to know, told me about several priests who had "retired". These were priests who had abuse victims come privately to our new bishop, and tell him. The cases that were too old, or lacking in evidence, the priests were immediately dumped unceremoniously by the bishop, not permitted to continue in ministry, lost all housing, benefits (including retirement and healthcare), not even receiving severance. They were out, without recourse.

The other priests, in our area, when victims wanted to press charges, were reported by the bishop to the police. Those were handed stiff sentences. Some are still in prison, several others died from heart attacks before or just after sentencing, one passed of cancer while in prison.

Most priests and bishops here are horrified by these crimes. I can't speak for other regions, but there is strong and severe housecleaning in our region.

This strong anti-abuse position also goes beyond the ordained clergy. Anyone going into any kind of ministry with children or the vulnerable, now undergoes special training, oversight, background checks, and resources in spotting and reporting suspected abuse.

It's not just words here, there is significant action and justice.

I didn't hear Pope Francis's words to the victims, but I too appreciate his not sweeping this under the rug.

Yes, I too believe he is in danger. He's behind a lot of good reforms, tossing out crooks and old croneys.
He has a lot of powerful people really pissed by his actions and policy changes. I'm not swept away by him, but I like him, and he has my respect.

 

[scout86]

The cases that were too old, or lacking in evidence, the priests were immediately dumped unceremoniously by the bishop,

It's my understanding that, in this part of the country, those who were "dumped" were dumped into a comfortable retirement. But, the local public news media has done a great investigative report, which lead to the local leadership being "dumped", and replaced, by the current pope. Criminal charges are being pursued for not only the assaults but for the cover up, which sounds like it was extensive. Leadership, apparently, point blank lied about abuse and abusers, in an ongoing cover up. (I seem to remember a commandment that covers that sort of thing!) Anyway, THIS pope has yet to appoint a new archbishop. It will be interesting to see how that plays out.

Meanwhile, don't forget, "This isn't about justice, it's about the law." (Quote from administrative law judge to Scout as he was about to impose a ridiculous fine.)

 

[shimmerz]

There is a place in Ontario that I know of (it was just around the corner from me on the farm), that was owned by the Catholic church. That is where the 'retired' priests went. We all knew what 'retired' meant.