In our synodal journey, Cardinal Mario Grech reminded us in a meeting at Oxford University on 23 March that ‘the sexual abuse crisis is something that needs to be addressed… There are problems, issues, within the Church about which we choose to remain silent rather than speak. The clearest example that comes to mind for all of us is the sexual abuse crisis that the Church has gone through and continues to go through’.
In January and February 2022, the Root&Branch Forum and the Scottish Laity Network organised four Zoom events for survivors of abuse. The meetings were led by experienced lay people eager to create a safer and more just Church for all people, especially the most vulnerable. With the permission of the speakers, who reflected at length, they developed an educational resource on the phenomenon based on their four talks, available at this link
Root&Branch is a forum for change where all are welcome. They work to make the Catholic Church safer, more inclusive and welcoming for all. They are supported by pastorally sensitive and well-informed thinkers and theologians, lay and religious. More information
The central vision of the Scottish Lay Network is to enable Scottish lay people to come together as disciples of Jesus and, through prayer, dialogue and discernment to find ‘new ways’ of being Church in Scotland in the 21st century. Rooted in this vision, they seek to reflect on the ‘signs of the times’ revealed by Covid-19, the climate emergency and, through the promptings of the Spirit, discern how we are called to respond. Here is their contact: slaitynetwork@gmail.com