Photo: Baroness Hollins and colleagues working on the Vatican Abuse Commission
The Catholic Union’s annual Craigmyle Lecture was delivered on 28 November by Baroness Hollins of Wimbledon and Grenoside. Her talk was focused on the issue of sexual abuse within the Church, reflecting on years of experience directed towards preventing and combatting the issue.
Shelia Hollins is a renowned psychiatrist and former President of the BMA who now sits as a crossbench peer in the House of Lords. A lifelong Catholic, she has spent years fighting for and upholding Catholic values in government, recently voting against attempts to introduce assisted suicide. Since 2010, she has devoted vast amounts of her time to the issue of clerical abuse and in 2014 was appointed by Pope Francis as a founding member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (PCPM). She maintains a position of unique experience on not only how this issue has affected Vatican policy, but also on the lasting effects abuse can have on the physical, mental and spiritual health of victims.
Recent times have seen a dramatic rise in high-profile abuse cases in the Church and this, paired with the recent report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), which was published last month, has created a sharp necessity for increased action on the matter. There is a growing sentiment of anger and dismay among many Catholics who believe that the Vatican hierarchy is neglecting to resolve an issue that has for too long tainted and overborne the sanctity and mission of the Church.
Lady Hollins began by quoting St Augustine: “Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.” Acknowledging the anger felt by so many who have been affected by abuse is an essential component in bringing about the culture change that the Church desperately needs. She highlighted this specifically as an area where significant improvement is needed because “if people can’t hear, they won’t tell.” There are some who listen but recent events have exacerbated the need for faster and more significant change.
She recognised that some efforts by Pope Francis have had some positive effects. Ultimately, however, there is a feeling among victims and those who work with them that not enough is being done. Lady Hollins reflected on the retirement of Marie Collins from the PCPM as evidence for this dissatisfaction, and quoted Collins’ resignation letter: “I find it impossible to listen to public statements about the deep concern in the Church for the care of those whose lives have been blighted by abuse, yet to watch privately as the congregation in the Vatican refuses to even acknowledge their letters.”
This raises many of the key issues that campaigners face in their struggle to bring about an active change within the Church. First, the necessity for transparency in both process and allegation, which can only be achieved through the courage of authentic leadership. It also highlights the issue of clericalism with regard to abuse. This has already been noted by Pope Francis as “the larger part of the Church’s failure to set up transparent processes to prevent abuse, and to respond to abuse when it happens,” Lady Hollins said.
Clericalism is where power exists in the Church and it is only from here that real progress can stem. Quoting a recent article in the Tablet she said, “The focus of the clerical sex abuse crisis is now squarely on the Church’s hierarchy, not only in its mishandling of cases but in the emergence of allegations of abuse perpetrated by bishops.” She continued, “The credibility of the Church hinges on how its central government responds.”
How should the hierarchy of the Church respond? In the short term, Lady Hollins argued that its members need to increase their capacity to listen to and acknowledge the suffering that has been caused. Quoting a speech from Pope Francis in 2016, she said, “Listening means paying attention, wanting to understand, to value, to respect and to ponder what the other person says. Knowing how to listen is a gift which we need to ask for and then make every effort to practise.” It is here that her focus lies regarding training members of the clergy; it was also on this topic that Marie Collins levelled her criticism when offering her resignation.
“I was glad to have the opportunity to give this year’s Craigmyle Lecture,” Lady Hollins concluded. “I know for many people in the Church, and perhaps some listening to my talk, this subject is deeply personal. We are seeing things change in the Church, and I’m pleased to be playing a small part in that. But culture change in any institution is no easy task and there is no one size fits all approach.” She went on: “It’s vital that we learn to listen to those who have been abused. That’s why public meetings and talks on this subject are so important. As we listen, we will learn from each other and only then be able to move forward.”
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