«This summit,» he told press, «is a very strong sign of a commitment to the defense of the dignity and protection of minors in the Church.»
«This call, this invitation,» the Pope’s trusted abuse investigator emphasized, «says one fundamental thing: that the issue of preventing abuse and the protection of minors commits the whole Church and commits everyone in the Church.»
The meeting, the prelate noted, already points out a very clear position the Holy See took in 2011 when the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith addressed to all the Bishops’ Conferences of the world a circular letter. This document, he noted, «pointed out fundamental attitudes of response to the sad phenomenon of child abuse but also indicated the the need to carry forward the intense, but necessary work of guidelines for every nation in the world.»
Many episcopal conferences, he said, followed suit. The majority, the Archbishop said, responded to this invitation and in the years that followed 2011, all the guidelines were examined by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
«But we must not only have documents,» Archbishop Scicluna said, suggesting actions are needed.
«We need to sensitize the whole community because this sad phenomenon is not only resolved by the hierarchy but it is a commitment that must involve everyone.»
When asked about formation of candidates for the priesthood, he responded: «Already in 2011, the circular letter of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith indicated the human formation of candidates for priesthood and religious life as one of the important and fundamental aspects. But already in 1992 there was a prophetic message of St. John Paul II in the Post-Synodal Exhortation Pastores dabo vobis which, speaking of the formation of future priests.»
This exhortation, Archbishop Scicluna stated, «valued in a prophetic and urgent way the question of human formation, psychological screening and even a clear and timely evaluation of the candidate from the point of view of suitability to the ministry on the key of emotional suitability and of the suitability to be a pastor and father for the flock.»
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Full Text of Pope St John Paul II’s Post-Synodal Exhortation Pastores dabo vobis: http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_25031992_pastores-dabo-vobis.html
CONGREGATIO PRO DOCTRINA FIDEI: CIRCULAR LETTER TO ASSIST EPISCOPAL CONFERENCES IN DEVELOPING GUIDELINES FOR DEALING WITH CASES OF SEXUAL ABUSES OF MINORS PERPETRATED BY CLERICS: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20110503_abuso-minori_en.html