The Diocesan Commission: a Church response to confront sexual abuse of minors

Abstract

The preposterous event of sexual abuse of children and teenagers is a silent global fact. It is present in the lives of hundreds of families, reaching millions of minors annually. This event, which can be considered pathological, is, at the same time, a criminal offense, because it hurts the dignity of the person, invading freedom and hindering the development of the victim. This affliction also stroke the members of the Church: children and teenagers were abused by those who should protect and guide them. The Church responded to this event through the Roman Pontiff . Only a multidisciplinary institute would be capable of understanding such event, of sheltering and helping the victims and acting for prevention. This interdisciplinary platform is the Diocesan Commission.