The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne acknowledges and accepts the pain and harm caused to the victims and survivors of abuse in the Catholic Church.
‘If one member suffers, all suffer together with it” (1 Cor 12:26). These words of Saint Paul forcefully echo in my heart as I acknowledge once more the suffering endured by many minors due to sexual abuse, the abuse of power and the abuse of conscience perpetrated by a significant number of clerics and consecrated persons. Crimes that inflict deep wounds of pain and powerlessness, primarily among the victims, but also in their family members and in the larger community of believers and nonbelievers alike. Looking back to the past, no effort to beg pardon and to seek to repair the harm done will ever be sufficient. Looking ahead to the future, no effort must be spared to create a culture able to prevent such situations from happening, but also to prevent the possibility of their being covered and perpetuated. The pain of the victims and their families is also our pain, and so it is urgent that we once more reaffirm our commitment to ensure the protection of minors and of vulnerable adults.’
Letter of his Holiness Pope Francis to the People of God, Liberia Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City, 20 August 2018
We pay our respects to all victims and survivors who have shared their personal witness, so that we may learn to better protect children, young people and adults.
We also acknowledge with deep respect those who felt unable to bring their voices forward due to the enormity of the trauma they suffered as children, and those whose voices can no longer be heard.
We dedicate our ongoing efforts in safeguarding to all the victims and survivors of sexual, physical, emotional and spiritual abuse and neglect.