“It’s a first step”, said Christine Pedotti, Saturday, November 6 on franceinfo. The editorial director of Christian witness reacted to the recognition, Friday, by the bishops, of the “systemic responsibility of the Church” in the sexual violence committed by priests on minors and vulnerable adults. “It is important that they recognize that there is something in the institutional structure of the Church, she believes, which has caused both the possibility of abuses, that they are concealed, hidden and that silence reigns. Mbut that’s not enough “.
A “penitential act”, a call to divine mercy, is planned this Saturday in Lourdes by the bishops to pay homage to the victims. What about what they will tell the victims?
Christine Pedotti: The whole problem is there. Before offending God, the system violated bodies and human lives. So it is to these people, these lives that we must first turn. Obviously the victims, and rightly so, will not be satisfied, if it is simply a question of turning to God. You must first be reconciled with your brother and I am not inventing it, it is the gospel that says it: before going to pray, go first to be reconciled with your brother.
Some victims have demanded that the bishops do not ask forgiveness directly today in Lourdes, there are different positions.
I know that it was complicated for the victims to know what to do because they did not want to be manipulated and instrumentalised by going to Lourdes, but they also believed that the relationship with the bishops should not be severed. so these were extremely difficult decisions to make. Some thought that going to Lourdes and maintaining communication with the bishops was important, others use the slogan “from words to deeds”. Because words don’t cost a lot, actions will have to be decisive. I had asked for the collective resignation as being a costly act that would show the victims that they considered the weight of their responsibility. So victims, associations and Catholics will gather this afternoon.
Luc Crepi, Bishop of Versailles and President of the permanent cell for the prevention and fight against pedophilia in the Church said that the perpetrators should contribute to this repair and that the door was not closed to the participation of the faithful . What do you think ?
Christian witness conducted a survey on the matter. Practicing Catholics, those who go to mass every Sunday, are 10% to consider paying. All Catholics are 4%, so it is not in these pockets that we are going to find the money, but I think the victims need it to be an expensive process. It cannot be without pain for the very body of the Church and its institution. If they do not agree to part with outward signs of wealth, to show something, it does not work, repair is at that price.