Susan Mulheron
Networking, sharing best practices and finding inspiration were among takeaways for two members of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis who attended an international conference in Rome on clergy sexual abuse titled, “Reporting Abuse. Obligations, Dilemmas and Reality.”
“I left with a very firm belief that there is a worldwide movement within the Catholic Church that is unstoppable,” said Tim O’Malley, archdiocesan director of ministerial standards and safe environment. Describing the conference as “very powerful,” O’Malley said he believes dioceses worldwide are moving toward greater accountability for all.
Susan Mulheron, chancellor for canonical affairs, said she learned things of value for the archdiocese and for helping dioceses in other parts of the world.
One area where some participants struggled, she said, is lack of access to a canon lawyer. So, Mulheron is considering what resources she and other canon lawyers could provide. Networking proved valuable for her, Mulheron said. For example, a priest from Australia sent her training modules he provides to priests related to hearing confessions where abuse might be disclosed.
Tim O’Malley
“There was a camaraderie there with the people who are so engaged in working hard in this area for the Church,” she said. “Everybody was there for the same reason and united in that, and the sense of solidarity with people from incredibly diverse groups from all over the world.”
At the June 20-22 gathering, speakers and small groups focused on: 1) Pope Francis’ 2019 “motu proprio,” “Vos Estis Lux Mundi” (“You are the Light of the World”), which set procedural norms to combat sexual abuse and create structures for bishops’ accountability, 2) victim and diocese reporting of abuse to civil authorities, 3) victim survivors’ reporting process to Church authorities, and 4) understanding victim survivors and their journey, meeting them where they’re at, being supportive, O’Malley said.
Mulheron and O’Malley were among six people from the United States and about 80 people from 20 countries who participated in the annual International Safeguarding Conference, held at Pontifical Gregorian University. Mulheron said she and O’Malley were invited because of the archdiocese’s experience with abuse victims and the expertise they have acquired.
The conference broadened her perspective on what the Church faces regarding next steps, Mulheron said. “We’re always thinking about what’s the next step, how can we do more, how can we do this better?”
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