Drawing closer to the suffering of others

by SR MARY M. LEMBO, CSC Institute of Psychology - Centre for Child Protection

There are several ways to serve the Church. One of them is to draw close to those who have been hurt, extending a helping hand, helping them overcome their trauma while understanding the underlying dynamics of abuse in order to prevent it.

A moment of joy shared after the defence of the doctoral dissertation of Sr. Mary Lembo.

Photos AP/G.BORGIA M y experience at the Pontifical Gregorian University has been pleasant and constructive. The relationships with professors were uncomplicated; those with colleagues from different cultures constituted human support. I have learned to walk and learn alongside others, to share, exchange reflections and experiences.

The need for serious and continuous study, and for a job well done, prompted a yearning for in-depth reflection with an interdisciplinary approach. I found all of this in a seing that favours interaction between the humanities, social sciences and theology thus enabling me to live as a Christian, open to the horizon of the universal church and its mission, following the example of Saint Ignatius.

Faith-based response and development of the human person

The courses at the Institute of Psychology of the Gregoriana offered the opportunity to study the dev elopment process of the human person, which – as Fr. Franco Imoda, S.J., often reminded us –is “a mystery.”

The individual has great potentials, as w ell as limits. Men and women have received from God the grace, the capacity to know Him, to listen to Him and to respond to His call. Proclaiming faith in God implies living the Gospel in a coherent

A Filipino nun wears a banner on her head prior to a campaign to demand an end to violence against women and girls and effective way in daily life. The process of development helps understand the struggles, hardships and difficulties that may hinder a coherent life in response to God’s call.

The studies and vocation growth talks at the Institute of Psychology have helped me to beer comprehend my strengths and limitations. This personal process has led me to understand others in practical experience, namely through personality assessment and participation in vocational growth meetings. By understanding the human person through an interdisciplinary approach I learn to live my Christian life, which thereby enables me to contribute to formation for consecrated and priestly life.

Building on this background of education and practical experience, my work at the Centre for Child Protection (CCP) has given me the opportunity to draw closer to the suffering of victims of various forms of abuse (sexual, trust, power). The reflections that emerged in the seminars, the workshops on issues such as human, emotional and sexual maturity for living the evangelical counsels, offered the inspiration for targeted research. I started by sharing my thoughts with some superiors and formators, with priests, and I perceived the need to conduct my research on the reality of sexual abuse perpetrated by priests on consecrated women. The objective of my doctoral project was to investigate the underlying dynamics from the perspective of prevention.

Abuses by priests on consecrated women

In the Church, the cooperation between consecrated women and priests constitutes concrete Christian testimony for Christians and non-Christians alike. Sexual abuse is a scandal that hinders testimony and ev angelisation. Increased focus on the reality of abuse in the formation of priests and consecrated women can help prevent such suffer

ing and embrace Jesus’ invitation to be witnesses of His Kingdom, working together for His mission.

The research examines different types of abuse (rape, aempted rape, harassment, inappropriate solicitation with insistence) of consecrated women by priests in a pastoral relationship. In this asymmetrical relationship, the position and role of the priest exerts a certain influence – in spiritual terms and power – on consecrated women.

In these cases, sexual abuse has physical, psychological, social, relational, community and spiritual consequences that deeply damage the dignity and personal integrity of abused consecrated women, as well as the sisters in their communities. Some of them persevere in consecrated life facing daily difficulties and challenges, others leave and discover that integration into society is discriminating.

The study presents a set of proposals: a) preventive formation that clearly integrates self-awareness, affectivity (sexuality, emotions, needs), relational dynamics (manipulations) that reveal sexual misconduct; b) preventive recommendations to create sound professional and pastoral boundaries; c) guidelines to maintain them along with structures suitable for listening to and accompanying consecrated women, priests and persons undergoing formation.

Boundaries serve to protect themselves, the consecrated women, ministers, persons belonging to their mission and professional relationships. The guidelines foster awareness of the power unbalance present in pastoral relationships.