Rome Newsroom, Apr 9, 2021 / 08:00 am
Cardinal Seán O’Malley urged religious leaders to be vigilant in preventing child sexual abuse and supporting survivors in healing at a virtual conference organized by Harvard University in partnership with the Vatican and other religious groups this week.
“We all have a moral and legal obligation to as best possible provide protection and care for the people we serve, especially minors, young people, vulnerable adults in all religious, civic, and social groups, and the people we serve rightfully expect that protection,” the archbishop of Boston said April 8 at the opening of the three-day symposium.
“We must be vigilant in supporting survivors and their loved ones in the journey toward healing,” he said.
The online symposium, “Faith and Flourishing: Strategies for Preventing and Healing Child Sexual Abuse,” taking place April 8-10, is aimed at connecting abuse survivors, health professionals, child welfare advocates, policy-makers, and religious leaders from different traditions.