Bishops in Australia stand with the Pope on past abuses.
By Anthony Barich
AUSTRALIA’S bishops have jointly condemned the “unacceptable” abuse by members of the Catholic community of minors that has caused “irreparable damage”.
In a joint statement for Social Justice Sunday on September 16, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference said its bishops are “of one heart and mind” with Pope Benedict XVI apologising to the victims of abuse during World Youth Day in Sydney in July 2008.
“As Bishops, we openly acknowledge that the Church has not always acted well or properly in this regard. It is unacceptable that members and leaders in our own communities have committed abuse against children,” they said. “We recognise the irreparable damage that has been caused to young victims and their families.
“Abuse undermines the integrity of human persons and their future flourishing. All people have the right to a safe environment, whether that is in their homes or the institutions of our society.
“The Church in Australia has made a commitment to work collaboratively to create a safe environment for young people.”
The Bishops said they are committed to acting decisively to bring perpetrators to justice and fully support efforts to eradicate sexual abuse of the young from Australian society.
“The Church and its people have a role to play in promoting a secure and wholesome environment for young people, whether that is in building up and supporting strong families or in challenging aspects of society and modern culture that objectify and exploit young people,” the statement said.
Australia’s Bishops also committed themselves to focus on four key areas: indigenous youth, youth unemployment, mental health and abuse prevention; plus two international concerns, the broad spectrum of ‘environment’ and ‘justice in the wider world’.
With the global financial crisis continuing to cause unemployment in Australia, the Bishops called for the development of a youth employment environment that “values ongoing training and creates secure, non-exploitative jobs offering just wages in safe workplaces”.
The global financial crisis has triggered high unemployment and more casual rather than permanent work, leaving many young workers in precarious jobs, the Bishops said, adding that the eradication of hunger and the provision of primary education highlighted in the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG) will intensify as the global financial crisis is likely to hit poorer nations the hardest.
As the MDG deadline of 2015 approaches, the Bishops expressed support for Pope Benedict’s recent call in Africa for the developed nations to remember their “freely-made” commitment in 2000.
The Bishops also criticised the current level of support for those with mental illness, and said much more can be done to prevent it. In the context of mental illness, the Bishops “recognise the impact” of family breakdown, homelessness and substance abuse.
They said society must act to minimise known risk factors contributing to mental illness and called for the expansion of services to meet the needs of those suffering from it, and that these services must be designed to “interact with them in a manner that overcomes current barriers to access”.
The Bishops expressed confidence in the abilities of young indigenous and Torres Strait Islanders, and said their talents and qualities need to be supported.
They said young indigenous people need opportunities to learn, acquire skills, run businesses and take up leadership roles, and require role models along with opportunities and a safe
environment.