Oristano, the Church reflects on child abuse: "Those who cover up the facts must go"

There was a moment when the silence became deafening. When the archbishop of Ravenna Lorenzo Ghizzoni , former president of the National Service for the Protection of Minors of the Italian Episcopal Conference, told of having visited some priests in prison, behind bars for having abused minors: "And unfortunately I must say that I am not optimistic about the complete recovery of the abusers. When I visited them I realized that there is always the temptation to deny the facts even in the face of certain evidence. They continually look for justifications. They minimize the fact. In some cases it is difficult to succeed in having a true willingness to make a real change".

Strong phrases at the diocesan museum of Oristano during the presentation of the book “Monsters or Ours? The prevention of abuse and the treatment of offenders: a challenge for the Church”. Text written by the priest and psychologist from Oristano Paolo Baroli. A courageous essay born after the author met various victims.

For the first time, the Arboretum church faces a reflection on this current, but also uncomfortable, theme. The Archbishop of Oristano Roberto Carboni: «This is a delicate and important theme, fundamental in the formation of the clergy. Those who abuse must confess, those who covered up must take a step back».

Don Ghizzoni: «We are facing a delicate issue but the church does not sleep. Throughout Italy we have created many listening centers».

Don Paolo Baroli, 34, hopes that the presentation of his book, with the preface of the cardinal and president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, Matteo Maria Zuppi, will be the beginning of an important journey. And he makes an appeal to Archbishop Monsignor Carboni, addressing him directly: «It would be nice to establish, dear Father, a diocesan day for the protection of minors. It would be a way to reflect on the path of our church. It means recognizing a wound in the ecclesial body. We priests have the responsibility to create safe and protected environments».