Statement from Racine Dominican leadership regarding Pope’s acknowledgement of Catholic sisters being abused by clergy
It is affirming that Pope Francis chooses to acknowledge and shed light on the abuse of Catholic sisters by clergy. This is in large part happening due to the many discussions among leadership of women religious over the past decades and helped by the efforts of International Union of Superiors General (UISG), the Rome-based organization of the leaders of orders of Catholic sisters throughout the world. As this issue became more apparent, communities of Catholic sisters have worked hard to understand the trauma of abuse and to create environments where victims would feel comfortable coming forward.
The Racine Dominican executive team agrees with statement from the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) that concludes:
We hope that Pope Francis’ acknowledgement is a motivating force for all of us in the Catholic Church to rectify the issue of sexual abuse by clergy thoroughly and swiftly. The upcoming summit of bishops on sexual abuse provides the opportunity for decisive action. Among the actions we recommend are:
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The creation of mechanisms for the reporting of abuse in an atmosphere where victims are met with compassion and are offered safety.
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Refashion the leadership structures of the Church to address the issue of clericalism and ensure that power and authority are shared with members of the laity. The revelations of the extent of abuse indicate clearly that the current structures must change if the church is to regain its moral credibility and have a viable future.