Screen dump from the video clip from YouTube.
As I watched a short clip of the Archbishop of Brisbane, Mark Coleridge, addressing Catholics on the subject of preparing adherents for the Royal Commission’s[1] findings I winced.
This little piece is limited to one issue — the wording in the Archbishop’s video specifically about
the survivors of sexual abuse. I was surprised that he said, “That justice and
healing may be done to them.”
“That justice and healing may be done to them.”
Anything in that resonate within you? Anything in that sentence
trouble you?
Here’s the thing for me.
“That justice and healing may be done to them.”
Firstly, as a general comment about sex abuse done to children, reprehensible
is not a strong enough word regarding the systematic abuse of young people
within the church’s care. This is where words do fail. Nothing I could say here
justifies comment.
I also wonder about those who did not survive the abuse — those who
years later died through suicide or misadventure — those who left families
behind, so the families, themselves, are the survivors. There are also myriad
levels and manifestations of ‘surviving’ abuse.
Wording for many may not seem that important, but it is infinitely
important.
A simple improvement could be made to that sentence, to make it
read like the Catholic Church actually understands what happened and what needs
to happen. (And the Catholic Church has this sympathy of mine. As if any of us
know, or could know, the extent to which what
needs to happen, because how do you possibly ‘fix’ something so broken. And
there are undoubtedly details for many survivors which will never come to light,
as is the nature of the depth of the topic.)
Here’s my one point:
Whenever we do something to someone, we do something,
perhaps with the best of intention, but possibly without their express will and interests in our hearts. But, whenever
we do something for someone, on the other hand, we do it with their will and interests in our
hearts. A huge difference in meaning.
“That justice and healing may be done for them.”
That sentence demonstrates more clearly that justice and healing
for the survivors ought to take place at any cost, which is the only
appropriate response.
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