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Emma Winters September 05, 2018
Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane, Australia, is seen at the Vatican Oct. 14, 2015. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

In a conversation about sexual abuse in the United States and Australia, Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane, Australia, told America that “until there is a genuine restoration of trust, no apology is going to land.”

“We have to accept now,” the archbishop continued, “restoring trust will only come over time if in fact we do the things we say we’re going to do.”

The Catholic Church in Australia was under inquiry by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse from 2013 to 2017, when a final report was issued. Similar to findings of the Pennsylvania grand jury in the United States, the Royal Commission brought to light instances of abuse, as well as cover-ups by bishops and religious superiors.

“The dominant mood probably is a sense of bewilderment, really, because this is a crisis the like of which we haven’t faced in our history,” the archbishop said in a video interview with executive editor Tim Reidy.

Archbishop Coleridge noted that there were advantages to having a national scope with the inquiry and response. He said the national approach was vital in preventing a “fragmented and at times contradictory response” to “an area as vital as child protection.” However, the archbishop stressed that the national nature of the response also had “enormous challenges” because with seven distinct jurisdictions “Australia in the singular doesn’t exist.”

The impact of this investigation continues to be felt in Australia. Cardinal George Pell, who came under particular scrutiny by the Commission, is currently facing charges of sexual abuse, the highest-ranking Vatican official ever to be prosecuted. Archbishop Philip Wilson, the archbishop of Adelaide, was convicted of concealing sexual abuse this July.

To Archbishop Coleridge, the Royal Commission with “its secular eye upon the life of the church was extraordinarily important and helpful,” but it “didn’t do God and couldn’t do God” the way the church now must.

“You may become and may have to become, like us in Australia, a smaller church—in other words: a humbler church, a purified church, a church that is able to listen and not just speak.”

One issue that has come to the fore as a result of the revelations of sexual abuse is the seal of the confessional. Under Catholic teaching, a priest cannot report any information disclosed during the sacrament of reconciliation. As Archbishop Coleridge explained, right now in several Australian jurisdictions there are laws in place that require reporting, such that may make it impossible for priests to follow both church and state law.

“My own sense is that it’s law being proposed or passed by people who don’t understand the way the sacrament happens on the ground,” Archbishop Coleridge said. “If I as a priest confessor have someone come to me and confess anonymously to having abused a child...I don’t know the identity of the perpetrator. I don’t know the identity of the victim, and yet I am supposed to go to the police.”

In Archbishop Coleridge’s eyes, there are many more effective ways to protect children from sexual abuse than changing church teaching about the seal or priestly celibacy, another issue the commission recommended the church to revisit. The archbishop stressed the importance of changing the church’s culture and listening to survivors.

“Here, I’m echoing Pope Francis because he talks about a synodal church as a listening church,” he said. “We need that combination of passion and commitment to act. But patience, given that it will take time.”

To that end, the church in Australia is calling a plenary council to begin in Adelaide in 2020. According to organizers, this council is “the highest formal gathering of all local churches in a country,” which while striving to hear the voices of lay people, “will actually determine church legislation in Australia.”.

When asked about how to restore trust among Catholics, Archbishop Coleridge said, “The only thing that I can see that will restore trust is action...a willingness to act no matter what the cost.“

Speaking about the U.S. church, he said, “You may become and may have to become, like us in Australia, a smaller church—in other words: a humbler church, a purified church, a church that is able to listen and not just speak.”

Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.
Stefan Svilich
6 years 1 month ago

How about replacing all the five dollar words with something to the effect of: "Guys, keep your pants zipped and your hands to yourselves. If you can't do that, hand me your resignation, the door is over there. If I get a report, outside the confessional, that you're molesting the flock, I'm going to the cops. Any questions? Good. Get back to work.'

Trent Shannon
6 years 1 month ago

First off, Ice read the Australian Catholic's Bishops Conference response to our royal commission, and ive spoken to my priest about things a already in place (i was contemplating boycotting confessional after i get baptised in november

More or less what youve said is what's happenning. Screening processes are in place, the church undertaking police checks, working with children checks, any non-confessional reported instances of abuse will be reported as our law requires, etc. New rules are in place and education undertaken in seminary.

Confessional seal still in place but children will be urged to go to police with a trusted adult (kids confessional is done in sight of another adult now) offenders will not be given absolution but directed to go to police (with support) and not given prayer or penance.

Seal will remain in place - consider a child who needs to report their parent, and needs another trusted adult to tell.

Our royal commission made recommendations to go to the holy see, these have been passed on as they involve reform or changes to canonical law. Theres a lot going on, and two independent bodies (in addition to another that already exists) steering changes, ill be trying to contact or find a way to get updates from them, as our media have moved on from the outrage headlines of confessional seal remaining in place, and will be quiet until the next revalation (a media source i prefer to use even selectively quoted the royal commission response, yes left wing bias and headline-selling exists)

Lots of work ahead, no im not apologising for the church's scandals, but as a CSA survivor myself, and becoming catholic, im very interested in the way forward, and want to stay in touch with whats going on.

Go google "ACBC royal commission response" and see for yourself, and take it up with your local church/diocese and see how they are changing.

But church and pope really need to lead on this. The pastoral approach (waiting for the flock to come in) isnt good enough, the lost sheep are bleating for guidance. Time for some cloak and dagger dead drops, along with bishops opening the secrets box and being open with stuff.

Its happening here and there, but more would be great

Stephen de Weger
6 years 1 month ago

Ask Mark about whether he believes he should know if his priests or others are sexually active. He doesn't know and doesn't believe he has the right to know. Such a head in the sand attitude is hardly going to generate 'change'. Admittedly, he meant this about sexual activity (misconduct) with adults - the very issue that re-ignited the whole saga now occurring in the USA but seems to again be being swept under a plush but now very lumpy carpet.

Stephen de Weger
6 years 1 month ago

Brilliant Stefan.

Al Cannistraro
6 years 1 month ago

To me, the main questions are these:

1. How does the Church, in the face of this latest epoch of bad (human) behavior, continue to justify its claims to having a divine nature?

2. Alternatively, does the church have sufficient humility (and intelligence) to get real about its supposed divine nature?

Going forward it seem to me that, after the passing of the current generations of believers, only the most credulous and unsophisticated sorts of people will continue to buy into the keystone Catholic doctrine, which is that it is a divine institution.

Phillip Stone
6 years 1 month ago

Jesus is the model of humility and the best example of someone talking truth to power.
A humble American is an oxymoron to many people in Europe who have a lot to do with tourists. Looks like a lot of your commentators agree it is unthinkable.

Stephen de Weger
6 years 1 month ago

Mark, do you even hear yourself or think about the concepts you just blurt out - a smaller 'purer' church. The only way Mark's church is smaller and purer is because all the hurt and disaffected people are no longer there muddying the waters. I and my family are 5 members who have walked away because we just couldn't cope with the last straw - we were abandoned by yours truly when I sought help to return to teaching after losing my job due to a breakdown brought on my clergy abuse. I have moved on, now, and away. I'm glad he's remaining positive.

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