Bishop Henning on the Response to Child Sexual Abuse

"Child sexual abuse poisons all segments of society - families, schools, churches, community organizations, and health and welfare institutions. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 1 in 7 children in the United States experiences some form of childhood sexual abuse or neglect. That number is heartbreaking and cries out for a response.

"The Catholic Church in the United States has experienced terrible revelations of sexual abuse by clergy and religious. The great majority of the allegations have been characterized as 'historical' in that they concern sins committed decades ago. The pain of these sins was magnified when some Church leaders failed to respond properly to victim survivors and their families"

In a recent commentary, Bishop Richard G. Henning, the bishop of the Diocese of Providence (RI), reflected on some of the responses to victims of abuse within the Church and on the importance of spiritually accompanying these victims.

To access Bishop Henning's complete essay, please visit: 

The State of Hope: The Response to Child Sexual Abuse (25 APR 24)