The Vatican’s first ever international summit on child protection has begun in Rome.
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The Holy See has released 21 points drawn up as “an aid to reflection”, which include preparing a “practical handbook” on steps taken by authorities when a case emerges, when to involve bishops and “civil authorities”, and introducing rules for candidates for the priesthood, with programs to “help them develop their human, spiritual and psychosexual maturity”.
It says victims should be offered “all the necessary support for a complete recovery”, and “pathways of pastoral care” should be prepared for communities “injured by abuses”, as well as “penitential and recovery routes for perpetrators”.
These points, among many others, are not the conclusions for the meeting, but are designed to steer discussions between the 190 delegates from bishops conferences, commissions and others.
At the opening of the conference, a video was played featuring survivors of sexual abuse telling their stories.
Opening the summit, Pope Francis said delegates should “hear the cry of the little ones who plead for justice”, after urging people to lower their expectations before the conference began.
“The holy People of God looks to us, and expects from us not simple and predictable condemnations, but concrete and effective measures to be undertaken. We need to be concrete,” he said.
“May the Virgin Mary enlighten us as we seek to heal the grave wounds that the scandal of paedophilia has caused, both in the little ones and in believers.”
Ballarat-based survivor Andrew Collins said the reflection points document did not focus enough on past abuses, instead on the future.
“They mention internal investigations but in most countries one would think that the authorities should be the ones investigating,” he said.
“Police should be supported in any investigation and the church should not be investigating itself.
“The support and care of victims should be the prime focus. Any policies must be victim-centred rather than church-centred.”
The Catholic Diocese of Ballarat had submitted feedback to Australia’s representative, the Archbishop of Brisbane, Mark Coleridge.
Ballarat’s Vicar-General, Father Kevin Maloney, said he had made suggestions about clericalism in the church.
“One of the things that came out of the Royal Commission was dealing with clericalism, and that’s an area that needs to be addressed - that’s where clergy dominate the decision-making within the church,” he said.
“In our culture, we need women to be far more representative in decision-making in the church, and it has begun (in Ballarat), the bishop now has the bishop’s advisory council … on that body you’ve got three or four women and about the same number of men.”
The summit continues until Sunday.
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