Pope Benedict XVI Writes Letter to Church in Ireland
(20 Mar 10 - RVI Pope Benedict apologised in a letter to victims of child sex abuse
by Irish clergy, saying he felt "shame and remorse". In the letter, the pope also
announced an Apostolic Visitation of Irish dioceses, seminaries and religious orders
affected by the scandal. We have this report...
Summary of
the Pope’s Pastoral Letter to the Catholics of Ireland
The Pope
has written a Pastoral Letter to all the Catholics of Ireland, expressing his dismay
at the sexual abuse of young people by Church representatives and the way this was
addressed by local bishops and religious superiors. He asks that the Letter be read
with attention and in its entirety. The Holy Father speaks of his closeness in prayer
to the whole Irish Catholic community at this painful time and he proposes a path
of healing, renewal and reparation. He calls on them to remember the rock from
which they were hewn (cf. Is 51:1), particularly the fine contribution made by Irish
missionaries to European civilization, and to the spread of Christianity in every
continent. Recent years have seen many challenges to the faith in Ireland, in the
wake of fast-paced social change and a decline in adherence to traditional devotional
and sacramental practices. This is the context in which the Church’s handling of
the problem of child sexual abuse has to be understood. Many factors have given
rise to the problem: insufficient moral and spiritual formation in seminaries and
novitiates, a tendency in society to favour the clergy and other authority figures,
and a misplaced concern for the reputation of the Church and the avoidance of scandal,
resulting in failure to apply existing canonical penalties when needed. Only by careful
examination of the many elements that gave rise to the crisis can its causes be properly
diagnosed and effective remedies be found. During their Ad Limina visit to Rome
in 2006, the Pope urged the Irish bishops to “establish the truth of what happened
in the past, to take whatever steps are necessary to prevent it from occurring again,
to ensure that the principles of justice are fully respected, and above all, to bring
healing to the victims and to all those affected by these egregious crimes.” Since
that time he himself has met victims on more than one occasion, listening to their
stories, praying with them and for them, and he is ready to do so again in the future.
In February 2010 he called the Irish bishops to Rome to discuss with them the steps
they are taking to remedy the problem, with particular reference to the procedures
and protocols now in place to ensure the safety of children in church environments
and to respond swiftly and justly to allegations of abuse. In this Pastoral Letter,
he speaks directly to a series of different groups within the Irish Catholic community,
in the light of the situation that has arisen. Addressing the victims of abuse
first of all, he acknowledges the grievous betrayal they have suffered and he tells
them how sorry he is over what they have endured. He recognizes that, in many cases,
no one would listen when they found the courage to speak of what happened. He understands
how those in residential institutions must have felt, with no way of escape from their
sufferings. While recognizing how hard it must be for many of them to forgive or
be reconciled with the Church, he urges them not to lose hope. Jesus Christ, himself
a victim of unjust sufferings, understands the depths of their pain and its enduring
effect upon their lives and relationships. Yet his wounds, transformed by his redemptive
sufferings, are the very means by which the power of evil is broken and we are reborn
to life and hope. The Pope urges victims to seek in the Church the opportunity to
encounter Jesus Christ and to find healing and reconciliation by rediscovering the
infinite love that Christ has for each one of them. In his words to priests and
religious who have abused young people, the Pope calls upon them to answer before
God and before properly constituted tribunals for the sinful and criminal actions
they have committed. They have betrayed a sacred trust and brought shame and dishonour
upon their confreres. Great harm has been done, not only to the victims, but also
to the public perception of the priesthood and religious life in Ireland. While summoning
them to submit to the demands of justice, he reminds them that they should not despair
of God’s mercy, which is freely offered to even the greatest of sinners, if they repent
of their actions, do penance, and humbly pray for forgiveness. The Pope encourages
parents to persevere in the demanding task of bringing up children to know that they
are loved and cherished, and to develop a healthy self-esteem. Parents have the primary
responsibility for educating new generations in the moral principles that are essential
for a civilized society. The Pope invites children and young people to find in the
Church an opportunity for a life-giving encounter with Christ, and not to be deterred
by the failings of some priests and religious. He looks to the younger generation
to contribute to the renewal of the Church. He also urges priests and religious not
to be discouraged, but rather to dedicate themselves anew to their respective apostolates,
working in harmony with their superiors so as to offer new life and vitality to the
Church in Ireland through their living witness to the Lord’s redeeming work. Addressing
himself to the Irish bishops, the Pope notes the grave errors of judgement and failure
of leadership on the part of many, because they did not correctly apply canonical
procedures when responding to allegations of abuse. While it was often hard to know
how to address complex situations, the fact remains that serious mistakes were made,
and they have lost credibility as a result. The Pope urges them to continue their
determined efforts to remedy past mistakes and to prevent any recurrence by fully
implementing canon law and cooperating with civil authorities in their areas of competence.
He calls upon the bishops, moreover, to rededicate themselves to the pursuit of holiness,
setting an example themselves, and encouraging the priests and the lay faithful to
play their part in the life and mission of the Church. Finally, the Pope proposes
some specific steps to foster the renewal of the Church in Ireland. He asks all to
offer up their Friday penances, for a period of one year, in reparation for the sins
of abuse that have occurred. He recommends frequent recourse to the sacrament of
reconciliation and the practice of Eucharistic adoration. He announces his intention
to hold an Apostolic Visitation of certain dioceses, religious congregations and seminaries,
with the involvement of the Roman Curia, and he proposes a nationwide Mission for
bishops, priests and religious in Ireland. This being the international Year for
Priests, he holds up the figure of Saint John Vianney as a model and intercessor for
a revitalized priestly ministry in Ireland. After thanking all who have worked so
hard to deal decisively with the problem, he concludes by proposing a Prayer for the
Church in Ireland, to be used by all the faithful to invoke the grace of healing and
renewal at this difficult time.