In his 20th August letter ‘To the People of God’ on the abuse
crisis, Pope Francis calls for “every one of the baptised to feel
involved in the ecclesial and social change that we so greatly need. This
change calls for a personal and communal conversion”.
We Are All Church, a movement of Catholics in South Africa (WAACSA)
echoes this and repeats its long-standing call for a radical renewal in the life
of the Church. Two roots of sexual abuse named by Pope Francis are a
culture of fear and silence, and clericalism, both sustained by the abuse of
power embedded in Church structures.
To eradicate these, and for our Church to undergo conversion, open
dialogue and co-responsibility between laity and clergy are required.
I agree with the above statement but would add accountability. The laity and women in particular are excluded from the hierarchy. We have no meaningful input. But we make up the greater part of the Church, and as politicians are supposedly accountable to their electorate, the Church hierarchy is accountable to its members. Therefore we have the right to demand accountability in all areas, and currently top of the agenda is the question of sexual abuse. I want us to be able to exercise this as a right.
The Church hierarchy does not believe it is accountable to the People of God, it does not even believe in dialogue with the laity