“Throwing light on the truth, with appropriate responses also at the penal level”: that, in essence, is how Msgr. Amédée Grab, bishop of Chur (Switzerland) and president of the CCEE (Council of the Episcopal Conferences of Europe), expressed himself on the problem of paedophilia in the Church, during the press conference presenting the 10th Symposium of European bishops on its opening day, the 24 April; the meeting ended on 28 April. It is a problem, he stressed replying to the questions of journalists, to which the European bishops “are not indifferent”, just as it “cannot leave anyone indifferent, because respect for human dignity and for the child are sacred, even for those who do not share the faith”. “Paedophilia said Msgr. Grab is an aberration that the Church cannot consider with particular clemency”. All the European bishops express “profound grief for the evil caused to children and for those who committed the error”; even though, he explained, “paedophilia is a disease and not a scourge that afflicts the clergy in any particular way: the statistics show that abuses against children also occur within their own families”. The Church therefore reaffirms her “determination to be fair and just, to cooperate with the judicial authorities and give appropriate responses both at the penal level and at that of compensation”. In any case, he recalled, “redemption and mercy are offered to everyone, so that priests cannot be denied the chance of redeeming themselves”. Among the positive responses that the Church may give, according to Msgr. Grab, is that of “paying greater attention to the psychological preparation of future priests”. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, archbishop of Westminster and vice-president of the CCEE, also stressed the need to “ensure that the protection of children is an absolute priority for all bishops throughout the world”. The English Catholic Church has in fact had to tackle the problem of the sexual abuse of children committed by priests and has published a document, the “Nolan Report”, on the prevention of such abuses. “In the past commented the cardinal especially out of ignorance, some bishops did not treat this issue with due attention. Standards of conduct for the protection of minors that are accepted by all the bishops and to which everyone in the Church must conform, are he said necessary for the future”.
