Madam, – I have a dream . . . that by Good Friday, 2011, the Catholic Church diocesan and institutional leaders who failed victims of child abuse will end this ongoing crucifixion by doing the following.
1. Recognising that forgiveness is not unconditional and that without full acknowledgment there can be no forgiveness. 2. Repenting, doing everything possible to undo damage done, to “make good” the lives of surviving victims and solemnly undertaking never to make such mistakes again. 3. Giving justice, as described in the Gospels rather than canon law, priority from now on in dealing with victims. 4. Revealing the truth, free of (a) misleading “mental reservation” and selective secrecy, (b) defence of the indefensible for years in legal cases that bind people to further secrecy and (c) concealment from the civil authorities of documents related to child abuse cases. 5. Then and only then humbly seeking forgiveness.
Only on that basis, a “closure” ceremony could be organised for that day where the past misdeeds would be symbolically and practically confined to history and a brighter better future for victims welcomed.
The alternative, a nightmare for surviving victims, is that nothing would change. That day could then be marked by a national protest. – Yours, etc,