The Church must confront its clerical culture to heal abuse

As a pediatrician, I have worked for over forty years to protect children and youth from the lifelong consequences of sexual abuse. This is compounded by devastating spiritual trauma when the offender is a cleric, who represents Christ.

It is in total contradiction to Jesus’ words and witness of care for children and anger at those whose harm leads them away from God’s love.

The Church cannot speak credibly to the global crisis or new forms of abuse from social media until it deals with abuse in and by the Church.

Secrecy and scandal

The longstanding problem, acknowledged in the 325 Council of Nicaea, early laws and Code of Canon Law, was dealt with internally.

The church was forced to acknowledge it by lawsuits and investigative journalism. Resulting in the loss of trust in the Church as a place of care and protection.

In 1989, as a member of the Archdiocesan Commission on Clergy Sexual Abuse in Saint John’s Newfoundland, I listened to the pain of victims, their families and communities.

I committed to work for protection and healing.

I became a member of my Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee produced the first national guidelines, Protecting Minors from Sexual Abuse: A Call to the Catholic Faithful in Canada for Healing, Reconciliation, and Transformation in 2018.

In 2019, Vos Estis Lux Mundi mandated global reporting for sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults.

Laws and policies are necessary but not sufficient for healing. We need conversion of minds and hearts and development of a culture of safeguarding.

Still unhealed

I weep in frustration at recent news of the U.S. Archdiocese of San Francisco $395 million to settle more than 500 new lawsuits, and ongoing sexual abuse globally.

Apologies and financial settlements acknowledge that harm was done to victims. They have resulted in bankruptcy of dioceses, closures of churches and anger at victims, which re-traumatizes.

We owe survivors apology, restitution, and practical support for healing.

Diagnosis

Healing demands correct diagnosis of the underlying systemic and cultural causes of this abuse of power, position, and trust.

The culture of the Church is clerical. Its hierarchical power and privilege create a systemic vulnerability for children and vulnerable adults.

This is fostered by a rigid sexual morality.

In a perverse paradox, silence, secrecy, denial and cover-up to avoid scandal has resulted the greatest scandal of today’s church.

Paths to healing

The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors’s 2026 Spring Plenary focused on strengthening safeguarding practices and survivor engagement.

In Pope Leo XIV’s meeting with survivors in Madrid, he “…pledged his commitment to ensuring the church may truly be a safe place …”

At the Spanish Parliament, he promised “Every wounded person must be able to find sincere listening, welcome, protection and paths to healing.”

Reconciling church culture to the mind of Christ is necessary to forge this path.

Bishops and other church leaders are experiencing, “tragedy fatigue” in our secularized societies.

May deep, empathic listening to the spiritual pain of survivors energize true healing.

This column first appeared on Flashes of Insight and has been republished with permission by Global Catholic. The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official editorial position of Global Catholic.