In the fight against paedophilia even the bishops will have to "account" for their actions, or not actions. In theory, that would already be the case, since they depend on the Pope, but on the practical side the situation is not effective, because the Pontiff cannot realistically supervise everything and everyone within a reasonable time. Therefore, the Church needs intermediate responsible bodies. Perhaps starting with the strengthening of the "metropolitan", a bishop who presides over a circumscription of more than one diocese. And by involving lay experts. Cardinal Blaise Cupich said so on the second day of the Vatican anti-abuse summit (21-24 February). We spoke about it with Monsignor Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg and President of Comece (Commission of the Episcopal Conferences of the European Community).
Hollerich revealed that "even the Pope" in front of the video testimonies of the victims "was moved. I don't know if he cried but he was very moved". It was "a grace to be able to listen to those testimonies".
The Prelate has no doubts: "If a priest is guilty it must be defrocked. We want a Church as Jesus wants it, if there is evil in the Church people have the obligation to inform the authority. We want to stop hiding things". The Prelate claims a legal report is most needed
Your Excellency, at the summit you spoke of responsibility and accountability: can you explain the concrete difference?
"Responsibility is the personal responsibility of the pastor, which leads to always trying to do something, everything possible to prevent and defeat abuse. Accountability means that I, as a pastor, must also be accountable for what I have done and what I have not done. And if a bishop commits misdeeds, covers up crimes or inappropriate behavior of himself or others, or moves "the problem" to another diocese, then accountability takes over, that is, he must report to the Pope".
But this means that the Pontiff should supervise all the bishops, and it's impossible: right?
"That’s why with the new proposal one will have to account in and to the collegiality, to the Holy See. The Pope always speaks of synodality, as he also did at the Synod for Young People. It confirms that Francis wants to transform the Church into something more decentralized, and that we bishops take on more of our own responsibilities. And in addition we must have more accountability. And I think that a group of lay people should be included in accountability".
So in your opinion these intermediate structures should be created between the bishops and the Pope?
"Yes. And I have no problem being controlled by a group of laity, not least because it's normal in today's society. My episcopal dignity is not hurt if there are lay people who look at what I do in this sense. We also need accountability from outside. Clericalism must be overcome, we are all baptized, of the same Church, and God loves everyone in the same way, I don't see why a lay person can't have this function".
How was the climate at the anti-abuse summit?
"Good, there were no sparks, much less clashes. And every day we were able to understand more and better the situation”.
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