In light of the recent accusations against University President the Rev. Robert A. Wild, it is evident there is a strong need for transparency among the Jesuit order.
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests called upon Wild last week for an apology for allegedly ignoring information on a pedophiliac priest while Wild served as provincial superior in Chicago.
SNAP asked him to support their cause in rallying for greater disclosure and accountability concerning the Roman Catholic Church’s troubling history with sex offenders.
In last week’s open forum, Wild willingly responded to SNAP’s call with a prepared apology. While Wild’s apology is encouraging, it does not erase the church’s past. It is regrettable that these cases of sexual abuse within the church keep occurring, and it also suggests that these incidents are the result of irresponsible management and defective policy.
A lack of transparency regarding sexual abuse within the church is an ongoing issue, causing uproar from those personally affected by abuse and those within the church.
Consequently, measures have been taken to establish a more open policy. For instance, the Catholic dioceses have compiled a list of all known, charged sex offenders within the church and made it available to the public.
Even the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, urged the Catholic Church to take responsibility for its cases of clergy sexual abuse, saying “the truth will set us free,” as quoted in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Martin also called for fostering a new clerical culture that would welcome victims into the church community.
This kind of open policy is a standard met by many occupations, especially those that involve children.
And even though the Jesuit order is separate from the Catholic dioceses, its policy regarding sexual abuse should uphold the same standards of transparency and accountability.
Its current policies dealing with abuse do not cultivate these ideals, making it easier for concealment than transparency. Seemingly, these ambiguous policies protect their members rather than serve the public, only reinforcing suspicion.
An open policy with zero tolerance for any level of abuse is the only right way to address these incidents. In order for the Jesuits to truly reform and overcome their past of sexual abuse, a solid and direct policy must be instated that upholds a standard of accountability and transparency. And the time is now.
Prolonging a change in policy only portrays an unwillingness to accept responsibility for past incidents. The Jesuit order must adopt a change in policy to restore trust and establish healing among abuse victims.
In addition to policy change, the Jesuit order should take a straightforward, public approach to these allegations.
Instead of hiding behind bureaucratic tape, Jesuits should confront the issue, making amends through apologies, statements and, most importantly, correcting failed policy.
Considering the severity of past abuse cases, the Jesuit order should want to take a proactive approach to ensure these cases of sexual abuse never occur again.