Every Vatican office must be sensitive toward those harmed by abuse and should exercise “pastoral prudence” before deciding to display artwork created by an alleged perpetrator of abuse, the president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors told the Roman Curia.
“We must avoid sending a message that the Holy See is oblivious to the psychological distress that so many are suffering,” U.S. Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley of Boston, said in a letter to all Vatican dicasteries on behalf of the commission. While the presumption of innocence toward the accused during ongoing investigations into allegations of abuse must be respected, he wrote, the Holy See and its offices must “exercise wise pastoral prudence and compassion toward those harmed by clerical sexual abuse.”
“In recent months, victims and survivors of power abuse, spiritual abuse and sexual abuse have reached out to the PCPM to express their increasing frustration and concern at the continued use of artwork by Father Marko Rupnik by several Vatican offices, including the Dicastery for Communications,” the press release said.
“Currently, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith is investigating allegations of the psychological and sexual abuse of several consecrated women by Father Rupnik, who was dismissed by the Society of Jesus in June 2023.”
The complete letter had been sent privately to the heads of Vatican dicasteries on 26th June. The cardinal said it was his hope that “pastoral prudence would prevent displaying artwork in a way that could imply either exoneration or a subtle defense” of any alleged perpetrator of abuse “or indicate indifference to the pain and suffering of so many victims of abuse.”
Picture: Boston Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley (OSV News photo/Gregory L. Tracy, The Pilot)