Montreal, May 14, 2019 – The Canadian Religious Conference welcomes the Motu proprio “Vos estis lux mundi” as another step forward in ensuring that the Church is a place of safety for minors and vulnerable adults.
We support the requirement that procedures for reporting abuse are mandatory for clergy and religious. As well, it is appropriate that the definition of abuse includes the use of coercive power against persons of any age or sex.
We welcome that fact that religious superiors and bishops will be held accountable for their own conduct as well as their covering up the actions of others under their authority.
We invite bishops to include qualified lay people and religious in the structures of accountability to be set up in each diocese.
As leaders of religious congregations, we join with the Holy Father in acknowledging that: “a continuous and profound conversion of hearts is needed, attested by concrete and effective actions that involve everyone in the Church.”
About CRC
The Canadian Religious Conference is a network that brings together the leaders of 240 Catholic congregations of women and men religious in Canada. The CRC’s mission is to encourage its members to live fully their vocation in following Christ and to support them in their prophetic witness to justice and peace in a Canadian context.
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Information:
Jean-Michel Bigou
Associate Director, communications
Telephone: 514 259-0856 Ext. 105
E-mail: communications@crc-canada.org
Website: crc-canada.org