Church in
Crisis African bishops call for oversight of nuns
formation
More than a year after reports of sexual abuse of nuns by priests
in Africa and elsewhere first became public, an association of bishops
conferences from central Africa has recommended creating commissions to oversee
the formation of female religious, and to protect the autonomy of womens
diocesan religious communities.
Inadequate formation and the dependence of diocesan communities
upon local clergy were two factors cited in a series of reports documenting the
sexual abuse of nuns by priests, first reported in NCR (March 16, 2001).
Such abuse was cited in 23 nations, but the bulk of the personal testimony came
from Africa.
The new recommendations came in a message, titled The Woman
in Society and in the Church, from a July 6-14 meeting of the Association
of Episcopal Conferences of the Region of Central Africa. The meeting included
bishops from Equitorial Guinea, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Gabon and the Central
African Republic.
The message, largely directed toward injustices against women in
African societies, does not specifically mention the problem of sexual abuse of
nuns. It refers generically to factors that block the promotion and
growth of women both in society and in the church.
The message denounces such abuses as genital mutilation, assaults
on the physical integrity of women, premature and forced matrimony, and painful
rites for widows.
Referring specifically to nuns, the message says: We ask
that a commission presided over by a bishop be instituted to promote the
formation of women religious and to protect a just autonomy of diocesan
institutes of consecrated life, as envisioned by the Code of Canon
Law.
The bishops also write that, Consecrated women, witnesses to
the values of the reign of Christ, have a precious role in ecclesial life and
in society. When they live fully their vocation, they are seen as models,
counselors and educators who edify the people of God.
The message, originally issued in French, was published in Italian
translation in the Aug. 8 issue of LOsservatore Romano, the
official Vatican newspaper.
-- John L. Allen Jr.
National Catholic Reporter, August 16,
2002
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