A directive from Swiss bishops to prevent sexual abuse in pastoral care; participation in a national march against paedophilia; the organisation, for next year, of “Swiss WYDs”; and the creation of the “Suisse Solidaire Foundation” are some of the decisions taken in the course of the 257th ordinary assembly of Swiss bishops which closed yesterday, 4 September, in the diocese of Sion. The announcement of a directive “concerning the prevention and treatment of sexual abuse in pastoral care”, which will be made public in December, arises from the participation of the Swiss Episcopal Conference in the “second national march against paedo-criminality” which will take place in various Swiss cities on 21 September. The bishops “unite themselves with the organisers’ efforts to raise awareness in the face of this scourge of our societies and to request concrete measures in the struggle against the sexual abuse of children”. The bishops also considered the participation of 750 of their young compatriots at the 17th World Youth Day which took place at Toronto in July and decided to organise, for the coming year, “Swiss WYDs” in the country’s three linguistic regions, as well as diocesan Days dedicated to the young. Another theme considered during the assembly was the creation of the “Suisse Solidaire Foundation” (Swiss solidarity foundation), announced by the federal council in 1997. The bishops recommend that “the original idea of this institution be respected, in other words, using part of the gold reserves of the national bank to support solidarity projects in Switzerland and abroad” for the disadvantaged sectors of society.
