蜜桃交友

By Francesca Merlo

One year ago, Pope Francis hosted a Meeting in the Vatican on the Protection of Minors in the Church. It took place from 21 to 24 February 2019.

One year later, Fr Stéphane Joulain, a psychotherapist, speaks to Vatican Radio鈥檚 Olivier Bonnel about the outcome of the meeting, what has improved, and what still needs improving. He says that straight after the meeting there was a 鈥減eriod of silence鈥�, in which Bishops鈥� Conferences around the world received documentation and the Presidents of Conferences 鈥渟hared with their brother bishops what they experienced鈥�. Now, he continues, we have entered a 鈥渘ew phase鈥�, and 鈥渨e can see that Bishops鈥� Conferences and dioceses are taking measures鈥�. We are now in the 鈥渢ime for action鈥�, he adds.

In order to fight child sex abuse, several 鈥渄ifferent tools鈥� must be developed, says Fr Joulain. One that is currently developing, he continues, is the establishment of offices that people can go to, or phone, with their complaints and 鈥渂e listened to鈥�.

Fr Joulain continues saying that work on 鈥渟ensibilisation鈥� should also be done in parishes. This, he continues, is not only for the lay people that work in parishes. There is also a need for the formation of the clergy and the consecrated people. It must be stressed that formation is not something 鈥渁gainst them鈥� but something that must be done so as to 鈥減rotect the people of God鈥�, especially the most vulnerable.  

Fr Joulain spends 4-5 months on the ground, working to help fight child sex abuse, especially in African countries. His first example of this progress is in Ivory Coast, where a centre has enabled the majority of dioceses in the country to receive formation.

Likewise, continues Fr Joulain, in Kenya, a programme has been implemented 鈥渇ollowing research in Catholic schools鈥� on sensibilisation. The programme encourages children to 鈥渂e able to speak when they have a concern about their safety and about the integrity of their body and mind鈥�.

One year has passed and 鈥渟omething is changing鈥�, says Fr Joulain. We are not so much focusing on 鈥渨itch-hunting鈥� but rather on 鈥減rotecting鈥�. And that, he continues, is 鈥渁 turning point鈥�, something which is changing.

Finally, Fr Joulain discusses the different realities that different cultures face when dealing with children. 鈥淚n many cultures the child is not a person鈥� but rather 鈥減roperty of the family鈥�, he says. How are these children supposed to voice their concern and suffering 鈥渋f they are not supposed to talk to the adults鈥�, asks Fr Joulain.

I am confident for the future and 鈥渢hings will change鈥�, he says but what we have to take seriously are some of the obstacles, especially for victims. 鈥淭here is still a tremendous level of difficulty鈥� based on the administrative level of the Church. It is often very slow and complicated and can be an obstacle for victims today 鈥渋n their search for justice鈥�.