TJHC Newsletter - male religious apologise, NCR child sex abuse series, Frankly Speaking and more

Welcome to the Truth, Justice and Healing Council eNewsletter July 2017 View in Browser Forward to a Friend Subscribe

Male religious leaders apologise to female congregations for abuse The three-day assembly of Catholic Religious Australia in June has included an apology by the major superiors of male religious congregations to female religious congregations. "We want to express our sorrow for the harm that men within our congregations have brought upon others and the shame this has brought upon yourselves and the Church," the apology statement said. "We apologise for those times when we leaders have not acted with the swiftness or decisiveness that is rightly expected of us in our positions of authority, allowing abuse to continue. Australian Catholic religious congregations apologise for abuse at national assembly Catholic Leader July 18 2017 Congregational Leaders: Statement of Apology from Male Religious to Female Religious 22 June 2017 A Response to Male Religious Statement of Apology 22 June 2017     Frankly speaking... Just recently I saw an interview in the National Catholic Reporter of a convicted priest child sexual abuser, Gilbert Gustafson. He had pleaded guilty to abusing a minor in 1983 and served four and a half years in gaol. The interview outlines his personal journey, very frankly, through the seminary and early priesthood. He makes no excuses neither does he pull any punches about himself, his obligation to take responsibility for his actions and the need for broader Church reform. Latest from the Council Confronting sex abuse In the final part of a series of stories run last week in the National Catholic Reporter, Tom Roberts, editor at large, writes extensively about the history of the Catholic Church's response to the child sex abuse scandal in the US. The clergy's task is unfinished in confronting sex abuse National Catholic Reporter - July 21 2017 Click to read the other stories which were part of this series: Sr. Sally Bulter finds that faith sustains when institutions fail 'Uncommon conversation' on sex abuse falls silent 'All of us together': Sex abuse survivor seeks healing within the church Convicted soul: A priest-perpetrator of child sexual abuse shares his story German abuse report hailed as step in the right direction A member of Pope Francis' Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors says a new report on the abuse of more than 500 choir boys in Germany points to a current reality in many non-western countries – and that bringing these things to light means progress for everyone. Brutal Regensburg report hailed as step in the right direction Catholic News Agency July 20 2017 Coming up August 2, Our Lady of Good Council Parish, Frenchs Forest August 10, Dandenong Catholic Deanery Resource Dinner August 24, Address biennial National Catholic Education Media, Marketing and Communications Conference, Surfers Paradise August 25, Address to South Australian Catholic Principals, Adelaide October 10, Address to the Western Australian Bar Association October 17, Address to University of the Third Age, Canberra October 19, Address to Catholic Community of Geelong, Geelong November 4, Address to Catholic School Parents Australia, Hobart November 14 Address to Catholic Secondary Principals Australia, Adelaide       Copyright © 2017 Truth, Justice and Healing Council   |   Privacy Policy