The Summit on “Protection of Minors in the Church” begins tomorrow, February 21. A few days ago, the Vatican released the schedule and program for this meeting which I attach here: http://www.pbc2019.org/meeting/program. It certainly is a full schedule. A week or so ago I posted a blog in which I said I was hopeful this meeting would be worthwhile and help to address the abuse of children by clergy as a global issue.
I still am.
Looking over the schedule there will be nine presentations each about a half hour long. Most of the people giving the presentations I know. Two of them I have heard speak. Each day of the three-day meeting will be dedicated to one of three themes: responsibility, accountability and transparency. Much of the processing of the input will be done in small groups. There is prayer time built into each day and mass. Each day there will be a 5&1/2 hour break for lunch and siesta. This is typical of meetings in Rome.
Expectations of this meeting have been high. Yet, most agree that the meeting likely will only accomplish some limited goals. The hope is that it would raise awareness of the terrible suffering experienced by an abused child. Second, it would help bishops from around the world to understand the procedures that need to be followed in cases of abuse of a minor by a religious or clergy. The bulk of the work would then have to be done when the bishops and participants return home. The hope is that all the episcopal conferences would address the issues, especially those that have not done much in the way of protecting children.
The opening presentation will be given by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. He is the Archbishop of Manila (Philippines) and since 2015 has been President of Caritas Internationalis. His topic is: “Smell of the sheep. Knowing their pain and healing their wounds is at the heart of the shepherd’s task”. I heard Cardinal Tagle speak and I could not think of a better person to be the opening presenter at this summit. He speaks from his heart and from his experience. He I predict will get the meeting off to a good start.
Cardinal Tagle was one of the main speakers at the General Congregation of the Carmelite Order in September of 2016 which I attended as Provincial. It was held at the Casa Sao Nuno Carmelite hotel in Fatima, Portugal which is right across the street from the Fatima Shrine. Carmelite Provincials, Commissaries and Delegates General from around the world attended the meeting. Pictured above is Cardinal Tagle with Bro, Robert Chiulli, O.Carm. and me – Fr Michael Kissane, O.Carm. in front of Casa Sao Nuno.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle spoke on the second day of the meeting. He spoke in a very fraternal and warm manner and underlined the importance of mercy in religious life and the necessity of welcoming others, especially the poor as Jesus welcomed them. He invited all present to welcome those on the peripheries with the same mercy with which Jesus welcomed them. His topic was: “Missionaries of God’s tenderness and love”,
His talk was inspiring most of all because I could see that he lived his words. Tenderness and love and reaching out to the poor were not just words. He spoke with authority and credibility. Cardinal Tagle earned his Doctorate in Sacred Theology at Catholic University of America where he studied from 1987 to 1991. He wrote his dissertation under the direction of Joseph Komonchak on “Episcopal Collegiality in the Teaching and Practice of Paul VI”.
Later in the day Cardinal Tagle celebrated mass in the Fatima Shrine. He joined us for meals. I am sure his presentation at the Summit on Abuse will set a healthy tone to the conversations. The other speakers are also credible presenters.
No doubt there is some criticism that the Pope picked “liberal” presenters. I would tend to disagree. While many of them are of the same thinking of Pope Francis, they are more centrist than liberal. There has also been criticism that the meeting will not address the abuse of vulnerable adults or seminarians, nor the role homosexuality (if any) plays in such abuse or its cover-up.
Considering it is only a three-day meeting and looking at the packed schedule it is wise to keep the focus of the meeting limited to setting up protocols in dealing with child abuse by clergy and dealing with it on a global level. The other issues certainly need to be addressed. However, that will take time.
The closing remarks of Pope Francis on Sunday morning will likely summarize the meeting and set the stage for future work that needs to be done. Let us continue to pray for the success of the meeting and for all victims of child abuse.
Mike's Ponderings 