蜜桃交友

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

Covid-19 has forced everyone to understand what it means to be vulnerable. Thus Sr Nuala Kenny began her presentation of the first Safeguarding Webinar organized by the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) in collaboration with the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (PCPM), the Centre for Child Protection of the Gregorian University and the Telefono Azzurro hotline in Italy. The title for Sr Nuala鈥檚 presentation was 鈥淪afeguarding children, youth and vulnerable adults and the need for a consistent theology of childhood鈥�. Almost 800 people from all over the world participated in the webinar. Many others watched the live-streamed version on the UISG and PCPM web sites.

It begins with culture

For any safeguarding to be effective, Sr Nuala says that a 鈥渃ulture of safeguarding鈥� is necessary, otherwise 鈥減olicies and protocols are not effective鈥�. She continued, saying children in many parts of the world are immersed in a culture that contributes to their harm. They are objects of abuse, child pornography, child labor, trafficking, forced to be soldiers, etc. A culture within the Church itself has 鈥渃ontinually failed to address underlying beliefs and practices鈥� that fosters abuse and denial, and the consistent, inappropriate response of leadership for centuries

Vulnerability and systemic issues

Any relationship in which another person is trusted are 鈥渙pen to the possibility of loss and abuse鈥�, Sr Nuala notes. Childhood is the period in which the human person learns how to defend his or her own vulnerability. Those who experience abuse as children are therefore particularly devastated. For a child to be abused, certain conditions need to be in place, Sr Nuala explained. These conditions create the ground for the person to abuse a child, and the ground in which the child鈥檚 normal protective mechanisms are overcome. When a priest is the abuser, 鈥渄ouble damage鈥� is done, Sr Nuala said. Some people say 鈥渟oul murder鈥� takes place, she said.

Conversion in the family

The conversion that needs to take place is a process in which long-standing practices that do not reflect Jesus鈥檚 example need to identified and transformed, Sr Nuala said. It begins in the family, which is the primary place of nurture and protection for children. Any theology of childhood needs to therefore root out the harmful aspects of our 鈥渄omestic churches鈥�, she said: that children are the purpose of marriage, the having a child proves male virility, that boys are more desirable in the family than girls, that faith is optional, etc.

Conversion in the Church

Within the Body of Christ, this conversion means that we understand what unites us rather than divide people into special categories or statuses. It also requires 鈥渕eaningful dialogue鈥�, Sr Nuala said. 鈥淲e are called to speak out against injustice鈥�, especially when the vulnerable are targeted. Not speaking out allows the abuse to continue. Ideas about morality need to be converted from talk about sinful behavior that can easily be forgiven in confession to understanding the harm that sinful actions do to others. Lastly, Sr Nuala illustrated the prevalent idea that pro-life activity is reduced to targeting sexual behavior and abortion. The pro-life understanding, she said, needs to be enlarged to embrace the protection of anyone, especially the vulnerable, from any type of harm.

Treating children as Jesus treated them

Sr Nuala believes that the conversion required to provide a child-friendly culture is that of rooting ourselves 鈥渋n Jesus and His loving care and touch toward children鈥�. Nuala emphasized the care that Jesus had for children. He cured both boys and girls and rebuked His disciples when they wanted to keep them from drawing near to Him. It was a child, she reminded those participating, who provided the loaves and fish that Jesus multiplied and fed the crowd (see Jn 6: 9). Jesus also displayed 鈥渞ighteous indignation鈥� and had harsh words to say to those who harm children (see Mt 18:5-8).

The bottom line, Sr Nuala said in conclusion, is 鈥渢hat we in Jesus鈥檚 Church must provide what He would provide for His children鈥�.