… “if anyone causes those who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
Too many leaders in the Christ’s church turn a blind eye to abuse; and too many of them shield abusers.
This is a problem in all churches because abusers are predatory: they seek out children. They seek out vulnerable adults. Abusers know that children and vulnerable adults can be found in churches and so they seek out ways to take advantage.
This is why churches should be alert – not to treat everybody as suspicious; but to ensure that procedures, policies and a culture is in place to ensure abuse can be spotted and, when reported, dealt with safely and appropriately.
But time and time again we see church leaders turn a blind eye. They turn a blind eye to abusers; they turn a blind eye to the needs of victims and survivors; they turn a blind eye to their own regulations and safeguarding guidance; and they turn a blind eye to their co-leaders who ignore the guidelines and fail to act appropriately when concerns are raised.
If a case reaches the media, these church leaders will apologise and say that they will learn lessons. They seem to believe that this absolves them from responsibility for their connivance in abuse.
But victims and survivors repeatedly and consistently report hitting a brick wall when it comes to an appropriate response from the church – that is, until the media report on their case.
How many victims and survivors have been driven from Christ’s church by a lack of care, compassion and justice by church authorities after they have been abused by clergy or church officers?
Jesus Christ was clear what fate awaited those who cause his believers to stumble: “if anyone causes those who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
Enough is enough. The Church universal should grapple with this system and stop turning a blind eye.
The Church should stop pretending that abuse doesn’t happen. They should end the secrecy and cover-up and shine a light in the darkness.
Bishops should stop hoping allegations against their clergy are false; they should stop colluding in cover-ups and they should provide proper care and compassion for victims of abuse.
Archbishops should stop protecting bishops who do not follow safeguarding rules. They should enforce the Church’s rules firmly.
There should be no tolerance in the Church for clergy who abuse; and there should be no tolerance in the Church for Bishops who add to the trauma of victims and survivors by failing to adopt proper safeguarding practice.
“It would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”