“But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matthew 18:6 (KJV)

 “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

” Matthew 18:6 (KJV) This week the most powerful of the world’s Catholic leaders will be in Rome for a summit on the problem of child sexual abuse in the church.

 In Australia thanks to the recent Royal Commission into Institutional Responses into Childhood Sexual Abuse, we are well aware of the issue.

 What many may not know is that it is not isolated to a few countries, but it is a worldwide pandemic.  The issue is not new.

 Throughout the history of the Church there have been allegations and rules made about the sexual abuse of children.  Currently, this is covered under the church’s laws, or Canon Law.

Crimen sollicitationisis is the part that covers sexual abuse of children, (though strangely it only mentions prepubescent children).

This is often referred to as the Pontifical Secret, which requires that all information on sexual abuse is to be kept secret and sent to Rome. It has often been interpreted that this is the reason why Bishops did not report abusers to the local authorities, and the Royal Commission found that this was done to protect the reputation of the church.

 A result of this was that offenders were simply moved to other dioceses, often in other states or even countries, and the offenders continued to rape and sexually abuse more children.

To be fair, the Church has looked at the issue and made some changes.  Unfortunately, they view the problem as one of sin, and therefore attempt to redeem the offender.  By trying to keep the problem ‘in house’, all that has happened is that it has festered and grown.

 There have been many apologies made by bishops and even the Pope, but little has actually changed.

Even here in Australia where the Church was criticised, the Church has not yet implemented all of the Royal Commission recommendations.  Some it was forced to implement, as laws were enacted by government.  Others they deemed as unsuitable, while referring others to Rome.

They have set up a body to oversee child protection, labelling it as independent, even though it is set up and funded by the church.  Victims have said that it appears that they are not serious about the issue and that true reform is lacking.

There are actually three issues that need to be addressed.

The first is the rape and sexual abuse of children by clergy, the second is the institutional cover-up of the abuse while the third is care for the victims of abuse.  

The church has long been criticised for defending and essentially facilitating the offenders. In most cases they have paid for the court costs (often huge costs like in the case of Br Best and Fr Ridsdale), demonised and blamed the victims, and then continued to take care of the offenders.  All of this was done with barely a thought for the victims.

 If we look at what the founder of the Church says, that is Jesus, then it’s clear that he regarded harming children as one of the most serious of sins.

 Those who take the bible literally are left with no doubt that it is unforgiveable, while those who take it as a metaphor must also conclude that it must be one of the gravest of sins.

 Harming a child or causing a child to stumble is one thing but Imagine if they do much worse, like raping a child or cover it up and then allowing it to happen to others.

 The church needs to make sure that the offenders are held accountable under local laws, not just under Canon Law.  There are plenty of New Testament quotes where followers are told to follow local laws.

 The Vatican has the files that were sent to them (the ones they refused to send to Australia for the Royal Commission). They should send them to local authorities so that justice can be served.  Not doing so is just continuing the secrecy and is further covering up the crimes and  supporting the offenders.

Then the offenders need to be defrocked or removed as clergy from the Church. If God wishes to forgive them, that’s fine, but allowing them to remain as clergy blackens the church. The Church has often said that they take care of them to ensure that they are not a threat to society. They can still do this if they are no longer clergy.

 Keeping them as clergy tells the victims that the church does not take the crime seriously. The Church has defrocked and even excommunicated clergy for advocating for female priests or for abortion, yet the crime of raping children doesn’t seem to them to be as important.  Most people would consider that the rape of a child would have to be one of the worst crimes possible.

 The second issue is the cover-up.

 The Royal Commission, in the final report on Ballarat spoke about clergy who were consultors to Bishop Mulkearns.

 It concluded that these men all knew about children being raped and abused, yet did nothing except to move and protect the offenders.

 Think about this; Catholic Bishops, Priests and other clergy knew that children had been raped and abused. They did not help those children.  They did not inform parents.  They did not inform Police, even though it was always a crime to rape children.  They did not warn the communities where they moved the offenders to.  Instead they covered it up and protected the offenders.

 Put yourself in their shoes.

 Could you sleep at night knowing what was done? Could you stay silent as many victims took their own lives? Could you stand in front of people and preach to them about morals and values? Could you look at yourself in the mirror knowing that your failure to do what any decent person would have done resulted in even more children being raped and abused? These have never atoned for their actions.

We expect our religious leaders to follow what they preach, or to at least follow the law.With all of the attention the cover up has had in the media, you might think that the church has done something about this.

They have done nothing.

One of the Ballarat consultors was recently lauded for his contribution to schools and children, despite the Royal Commission findings.

 And when Bishop Mulkearns died, it took action by victims to make the diocese change its plans to honour him with first a funeral in the Cathedral, and then a memorial mass. He is mentioned on their web page but there is no mention of what he did.

The current Bishop, Bishop Bird said that plaques shouldn’t be removed from schools with his name on them because people should remember the good he did.

Nobody is all good or all bad, but we never talk about the good Hitler or Stalin did for a reason. Mulkearns, like others who either abused children or covered it up, made decisions that defined their legacy.  The good doesn’t cover up the bad. The church needs to be open and transparent about the cover-ups.

Even if those involved were simply following orders from above, they let down the victims and the communities they served.  What they did was morally wrong, and in some cases illegal.  They should be held to account.

Some of these are getting old, and they should come forward, apologise and tell what they know to authorities.

 he church must release them from any law of secrecy if they do not have the decency to do some themselves.

 They are not serving God or the community by covering up crimes against children.

 The last issue is the victims.

 Our society doesn’t like hearing about sexual abuse.  It’s sad, but they still find it “dirty” and victims are forever seen as somehow tainted.

 Adults often turn away when hearing the details of the horrific crimes committed against children.  It’s bad enough hearing about it, but when it’s committed by clergy they struggle.

 Often the offenders were friendly and charming people, and it’s hard to reconcile that with the stories of their abuses.

 If you think that hearing stories of a priest putting his penis into a child’s mouth in a church then telling that child that they are to blame and will burn in hell for it is bad, imagine the child.

 Sexual abuse of children leaves permanent psychological damage.

 Having it done by a man of god then being threatened with  eternal damnation destroys the child, and even as an adult they will never be normal.  Victims are ten times more likely to suicide, and if they survive long enough, will die on average 10 years earlier than their peers.

 They are more likely to have serious health problems, mental health problems and have relationship issues.  They are more likely to abuse alcohol and drugs, and more likely to have issues with authority and become imprisoned.  Child sexual abuse is akin to murdering the child.

 The developing mind is forever changed, and childhood ends the day of the abuse.

 In Australia the government implemented a national Redress Scheme for victims of childhood sexual abuse in institutions.

 An average payment of $40,000 to $60,000 with a maximum counselling component of $5000.

 While the amounts are small in comparison to the injustices against victims, the worst part is the lack of any ongoing care and support for those who need it.

 Think of the offenders who have their needs paid for by the church.  Medical expenses, housing, clothing and transport all covered, while their victims are forgotten.

 oes this sound like something Jesus would do? The church needs to make sure that the victims are cared for and receive help when needed.

 Yes, compensation for the wrongs of the past are important, but it’s the ongoing and care and support that is vital.

 This isn’t about money per se, but is about the ongoing lifelong trauma victims suffer and helping them.

 The Catholic Church is a leader in the world. As a religion they are at the top of the tree.  Others follow their example, and look to them for leadership.

 As the sovereign state of the Vatican they have diplomatic relations with literally every nation on earth.

 They are in a unique place to affect the wellbeing of people all over the planet.

 They have to be a major part of the solution when it comes to child sexual abuse, not only because they have been a large part of the problem, but because of the massive influence they wield.

 By covering up child sexual abuse they have allowed it flourish in other areas, including in the home.

 By taking decisive and real action they will set an example to institutions and governments that will flow through to other victims around the world.

 Leadership will mean openness and transparency.  It will show the failings of the past, and many will have to be held accountable.  The only way to change the culture is to own the past and accept whatever punishment arises.  This is what the church believes must happen when a person confesses.

 They must confess, express a genuine desire to change, then must atone for the sins, including facing local law enforcement if required.  Surely the Church should face this issue in the same way.

 Victims are wanting swift and decisive action.  They have heard plenty of words from Church leaders, but have seen little otherwise.

 A Christian Brother who taught me used to say that “A man of words and not of deeds is like a garden full of weeds”.

 The Pope and the assembled leaders of the church have the power to take immediate action.  Anything less will be seen as just more words.

 A church cannot be a safe harbour for child sexual abuse, and it must be expelled both in name and action forever.

Andrew Collins

Survivor of Clergy childhood sexual abuse and Victim Advocate

Ballarat