Saskatoon bishop issues first pastoral letter

By Kiply Lukan Yaworski

SASKATOON — A pastoral letter from Bishop Donald Bolen about the issue of sexual abuse in the church was read in parishes across the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon on the May 1 - 2 weekend, describing the need to “attend to the cries of victims, address openly the challenges with which we are confronted, and respond in a Christ-like manner.”

The bishop’s letter stressed how the sexual abuse of children undermines the Gospel message that the church was called into being “to incarnate, in its proclamation, its sacraments, its ministry, its whole life.”

“We cannot be faithful to Christ and close our ears to the pain and suffering of others,” wrote Bolen. “This is always true, but profoundly so when that suffering comes form the most vulnerable within our faith communities.”

The church’s first concern must be for those who have been abused, wrote Bolen, “to listen to them, to validate their experience, to reassure them of God’s merciful presence, to assist in whatever way possible to help diminish their suffering and move towards healing.”

Ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability in handling cases of abuse within the church is an intrinsic part of that healing, the letter stated, noting that, in Canada, a critical turning point in addressing the damaging reality of sexual abuse was the statement From Pain to Hope issued in 1992 by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB).

“Locally, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon has over the years developed and refined a set of policies and protocols designed to minimize risk to children and youth, culminating in the 2008 document prepared under the direction of my well-loved predecessor, Bishop Albert LeGatt, entitled Working Together for a Safe and Respectful Church Environment: The Diocesan Policy for Protection of Children, Youth and Vulnerable Adults,” said Bolen. He asked all with pastoral responsibility within the diocese to become familiar with the document and take part in the continuing education and implementation called for in the policy.

“As an Easter people, we are able to address the darkness within us and not be overwhelmed by it, because God is faithful,” Bolen stated in the letter, recalling the episcopal mottos of his predecessors, Bishop James Mahoney — Fidelis Deus — and Bishop James Weisgerber — The Lord Keeps Faith Forever. “God’s faithfulness has been proclaimed and experienced through the generations in this diocese, and we are the inheritors of that faith,” he said.

“All of us who daily struggle with the challenge of living as faithful disciples of Jesus carry the pain of our current situation. As a people grounded in the paschal mystery, we understand this to be sharing in the cross of Christ,” wrote Bolen. “I thank you all for your perseverance in faithfulness, and your continuing striving for holiness amid the complexities of life. In particular, I thank the priests and religious in the diocese who live under a particular burden at the present moment, for your faithful witness to the Gospel and your dedication to pastoral care for your brothers and sisters.”

The bishop concluded the pastoral letter by asking for prayers for all concerned: victims, Pope Benedict XVI and church leaders, and for all the faithful. He also asked for prayers for those who “did not deal properly with these situations, and deepened the suffering of those abused” as well as for those guilty of abusing others.

“Finally, let us pray for ourselves: may we ever more be stewards of that mercy, loving the good more than we hate the evil, being ever ready to give an account of the hope that is within us, with our words and with our lives.”