Abuse victim warns against time bomb ticking in the Church in Asia

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Bishops, superiors and provincials must "get their act clear" against those who abuse minors. If they do not, sexual abuse will be "one of the time bombs happening in the Church of Asia,” said one of the victims who bore witness in a video shown at the meeting on the ‘Protection of minors in the Church’ currently underway in the Vatican.

Listening to the victims is a crucial part of the event. For this reason, every day some of them speak in a pre-recorded video with the Holy See Press Office providing transcripts and translations. While their identity is protected, from today's witnesses one can surmise that they are from Chile, Africa, the United States, Eastern Europe and Asia. Here is a transcript of what Asian witness said.

I have been sexually molested for long time, over a hundred times, and this sexual molestation has created traumas and flashbacks all across my life. It’s difficult to live life, it’s difficult to be with people, to get connected with people. I carried an attitude for my family, for my friends and even for God.

Every time I have spoken to the Provincials and to the Major Superiors, they have all practically covered every issue, covered the perpetrators and that kills me sometimes. It’s been a long time that I have been fighting this battle… and most of the Superiors either because of the friendship are unable to build a catch.

I’ll request the Provincials as well as the Major Superiors and the Bishops sitting in this audience to make strong acts which really put the perpetrator into place. If we want to save the Church, I think the perpetrators need to be given…

I’ll request the Bishops to get their act clear because this is one of the time bombs happening in the Church of Asia. If want to save the Church, we need to put our act together and get the perpetrators to book. We should not have friendship over here but it is the act, because this act will destroy our whole generations of children. As Jesus always said, we need to be child-like not to be child sexual molesters. 

• vatican
• sexual abuse
• minors
• transparency
• episcopal responsibility
• meeting
• pope francis
• witnesses