A few years ago, in this same magazine, the terrible reality of sexual abuse in Catholic Church environments was addressed under the title "The deep wound". It is undeniable that, especially since the beginning of the 21st century, the discovery of these criminal behaviors on the part of some people in the Church has meant more than a crisis: it has been a real cataclysm that has violently shaken the conscience of the Church but, at the same time, internally has given rise to a profound examination of conscience in its members, both personally and as a community.
The path is arduous, truly complicated, much more so than theories and reflections might suggest, as can be seen from the articles in this issue of Omnes, written by various experts who work in this field on a daily basis. To review and amend erroneous and, at the same time, accepted patterns; to recover the trust of those who have been wounded - either as victims of these abuses or as scandalized faithful or even hurt by gratuitous attacks; to heal hearts and relationships within and outside the communities requires strength and a solid spiritual, pastoral and human base on the part of the members of the Church and especially of those who have responsibilities of any kind in it.
The Church is immersed in a stage of healing, purification and formation in order to avoid, always and in all circumstances, any abuse, whether of conscience, power, physical or sexual, within ecclesial environments, but also in society as a whole.
In fact, the effort it is making inspires attitudes and actions that can serve as a guide for other institutions.
"Now is the time to remedy the damage done to the generations that have gone before us and to those who continue to suffer." Pope Francis told the members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in May 2023. "This Easter season is a sign that a new time is being prepared for us, a new springtime made fruitful by work and tears shared with those who have suffered. For this reason, it is important that we never stop moving forward.".
Always trusting that the Church belongs to Christ and that it is He who guides her, we cannot but make the necessary decisions and dispositions where, for too long, corrupt behavior, lack of transparency, deficient formation in the affective sphere, or mistaken concepts of freedom have been tolerated.
In short, it is a question of developing in our communities what the Pope has called the healing spirituality and to be aware that any institutional reform, any social regeneration requires, first of all, the reform of the heart of each person..
