Statement of the Diocese of San Carlos
Following the recent guidelines of our Holy Father to focus on protecting children rather than “protecting the institution”, and to provide the accompaniment of those who have been abused with an emphasis on listening – we have reached out to the family of the minor. While our Holy Father is calling for an “all-out battle” against the sexual abuse of minors, and to turn this evil into an “opportunity for purification”, we in the Diocese of San Carlos is challenged to “walk the talk”. I ask our faithful to pray for everyone involved in this case, journeying together as people of God, sharing the pain of the alleged victim and her family, the accused and his family and the faith community that’s directly affected by it, including our priestly fraternity, guided by this Word of Life: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” We draw consolation from Pope Francis that “if our hearts are open to mercy … we proclaim before the world that it is possible to overcome evil with good.” +MOST REV.
