LOOKOUT

 

We have come together, result of what our children and ourselves have suffered from the criminal misconduct of clergy and religious, aided and abetted by the hierarchy in the church.

# The purpose of this paper is to suggest a framework within which each member of this group may see their own concerns in relation to the group and to what others are doing in the group. It is not a charter for the group, but only a discussion starter.

# The tragedy and the trauma so many children and their families have suffered has shocked every one of us and impels us to action. We have been shocked that consecrated priests and religious could behave in ways that have damaged our children and ourselves so badly. Many of us have yet to learn how to cope with this trauma, and we know there are many out there who have not begun.

# Adding insult to injury the bishops and people in official positions have failed us, showing themselves to be disengaged from the life of real people, concerned more to protect the church's reputation and finances than to care for victims of their abuse, and – most hurtful of all – showing themselves to be indifferent or insulting in their response or refusal to respond to our complaints and appeals.

# Some among us have worked hard and effectivley to bring these issues to the attention of the community, and their efforts form the foundation on which groups can now be formed to take up the chalenge of providing safety for our children.

Our immediate concern is for those who have been abused, to care for them and support them in every way possible,

# by personal acceptance and supporting love.

* This has to be a very personal thing.

# by listening to their pain in a caring and responsible way.

* This takes a sense of compassion, and is best done one to one or in very small groups.

* We should be able to refer them to someone for professional help if and when they want this.

* How to help someone when we suspect they have been abused is something we need to talk about.

# by working towards their re-integration into the community.

* The worst experience for many has been rejection by parish, friends, and even family.

# and by working for justice in the naming and punishment of offenders.

Parishioners among us are determined to work towards the healing of our parish community, because it is or parish, our church community where our faith finds its first expression and support.

# By talking with others who may not yet understand the problem;

# By prayer and witness, e.g., in prayer vigils,inviting whole parish participation;

# By finding means to ensure adequate ministry in the parish – suitable priests assited by lay people comissioned to care for the community's needs;

# Supported always by this group.

It is clear in what has come to light through the Government Inquiries that abuse of children has occurred in other institutuions, religious and secular, and is common in families.

Whatever the causes, whoever is responsible, we now know that our society is not protecting its children. They are being used and abused even by those most responsible for their care.

We will always draw motivation from the experiences of those who have suffered abuse or who have been rebuffed whent hey have tried to sound the alarm. We owe it to the survivors, and to those who have fallen as victims of this scourge, never to forget their pain, never again to take for granted the safety of children.

Yet we must also simply acknowledge that all society and every institution and every individual is gravely flawed. We live in an age when corruption, cover-up and denial are endemic in the fabric of all our institutions, from the highest levels of government and the legal profession, through the churches and benevolent institutions, down to the local commuity entities. In response to this indisputable fact, our shock and horror must evolve into ever-alert vigilance, and find concrete expession in programs to energise our communities to fight for the protection of our children.

Our purpose as a group of Christians is to make our town a safe place for children:

# a community in which children will not be used or abused, molested or traumatised by anyone, either by family members, by other children,

# and especially not be those placed in authority over them in the churches, schools, sporting situations, or at work.

# For this we need to cooperate with other groups, the schools, police, etc.

As a group of Christians we are motivated not only by our human compassion and hunger for justice, but also by our trust in the power of God in Christ. Inspired and moved by the Spirit that is poured out over the whole world, we will fight this evil for the sake of children everywhere, confident that truth and integrity and love will win in the end.

Pope Francis has said he would see the church acting as a field hospital. He often tells people to go out to the poor, to the needy. While he has said little about those injured by clergy abuse, it is certain that the church will find healing only in going out to attend to the needs of all who have suffered abuse. The direction our efforts should take is towards the children of our town, rather than towards the reform of the hierarchy or the mending of the parish community. These are important but they will follw in time as a consequence of our work for the safety of all children in our local communities.

by

Raising Awareness

The way to achieve a safer community is firstly by making the issue one that is talked about openly and examined at depth by the people of our town.

# Models of raising awareness are available in Bushfire Alert programs, and in Neighbourhood Watch and Safe House programs.

First by spreading information through the community

# meetings in local communities and neighbourhoods

* We will find opportunities to work with groups in other churches and welfare groups.

* We will monitor the situation in schools, and wherever possible take our message of alert watchfulness into the staff rooms and class rooms in our town.

* We will try to influence people running sporting and leisure activities to be alert and proactive in protecting children in their care from harm.

# information through the ordinary media; even a campaign in Mountain Views

# a newsletter and webpage.

Then by one-to-one contact to make it personal.

# It is for each one in the group to choose how to be invovled beyond attending these meetings.

It is necessary to recognise that many are in denial about child abuse in general and sex abuse in particular, even more than about the danger from bushfires and even drugs: “It won't happen to us”. We have to break through that denial, aware that in the case of abuse the issue is very sensitive and requires more than usual care and responsibility in what we say and how we treat people. LOOK OUT!