‘We look forward to receiving the results,’ he says, and reiterates apology to abuse victims
CHARLOTTE — As Church leaders from around the world prepare to meet in Rome this week, Bishop Peter Jugis reiterated his “sincere apology” to all victims of clergy sexual abuse and urged people to report any allegations of abuse to civil authorities.
The Vatican meeting Feb. 21-24 is expected to bring together almost 190 Church leaders: the presidents of the world’s bishops conferences, the heads of the Eastern Catholic churches, superiors of religious orders of men and women, Roman Curia officials and invited experts and guest speakers. Its aim is to focus on responsibility, accountability and transparency at a global level as a step forward in strengthening each country’s particular response to the problem.
“As worldwide attention once again turns to the scourge of sexual abuse of the young, the Diocese of Charlotte in solidarity with Pope Francis offers a sincere apology to any who have been victimized by this crime and awful sin. And we urge anyone who has been abused to report it to the authorities,” Bishop Jugis said in his Feb. 20 statement.
At the upcoming meeting on protecting children, Pope Francis wants leaders of the world's bishops' conferences to clearly understand what must be done to prevent abuse, care for victims and ensure no case is whitewashed or covered up.
“The pope wants it to be an assembly of pastors, not an academic conference – a meeting characterized by prayer and discernment, a catechetical and working gathering,” said Alessandro Gisotti, interim director of the Vatican press office.
The meeting “has a concrete purpose: The goal is that all of the bishops clearly understand what they need to do to prevent and combat the worldwide problem of the sexual abuse of minors,” Gisotti said. “Pope Francis knows that a global problem can only be resolved with a global response.”
The meeting comes in the wake of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ attempt to improve its own policies last November, which the Vatican delayed for this worldwide meeting, and the recent release by many U.S. dioceses of lists of clergy credibly accused of child sexual abuse.
The Archdiocese of Atlanta and the dioceses of Raleigh; Savannah, Ga.; Richmond and Arlington, Va.; Nashville and Knoxville, Tenn.; and others have released lists.
In the Diocese of Charlotte, a similar list is also under consideration.
Allegations of child sexual abuse against clergy who have served in the Charlotte diocese are published in the Catholic News Herald, in print and online, and archived editions are searchable at www.catholicnewsherald.com – something the diocese has been doing for decades “in an effort to be open and transparent,” the bishop’s statement noted.
In his statement, Bishop Jugis said, “The Diocese of Charlotte has trained more than 50,000 people in sexual abuse awareness. All employees and volunteers in the diocese also go through background checks. Our effort to combat this sinful crime will continue.”
His statement continued, “We look forward to receiving the results of that meeting of Church leaders taking place at the Vatican this month, and then to undertake the work of applying all concrete action items to the particular situation of the Church in the United States in our future meetings of the U.S. Catholic bishops.”
“Please join me in praying for healing for all victims of sexual abuse and also for a productive outcome from the meeting with the Holy Father.”
— Catholic News Herald. Catholic News Service contributed.
BISHOP JUGIS’ FULL STATEMENT
Leaders of the Catholic Church from all over the world will meet with Pope Francis from February 21st through the 24th to discuss the subject of clergy sexual abuse of children. As worldwide attention once again turns to the scourge of sexual abuse of the young, the Diocese of Charlotte in solidarity with Pope Francis offers a sincere apology to any who have been victimized by this crime and awful sin. And we urge anyone who has been abused to report it to the authorities.
In an effort to be open and transparent, the Diocese of Charlotte has been reporting cases of clergy sexual abuse in the pages of its newspaper, the Catholic News Herald, since the mid-1990s. Archived editions are searchable online at CatholicNewsHerald.com.
The Diocese of Charlotte has trained more than 50,000 people in sexual abuse awareness. All employees and volunteers in the diocese also go through background checks. Our effort to combat this sinful crime will continue. Please join me in praying for healing for all victims of sexual abuse and also for a productive outcome from the meeting with the Holy Father.
We look forward to receiving the results of that meeting of Church leaders taking place at the Vatican this month, and then to undertake the work of applying all concrete action items to the particular situation of the Church in the United States in our future meetings of the U.S. Catholic bishops.