Cardinal penitent before abuse victims

Two hundred and fifty victims of sexual abuse attended a state ceremony entitled “Gesture of Responsibility” in the historic assembly hall of the Austrian Parliament on 17 November, writes Christa Pongratz-Lippitt.

Victims’ experiences, texts by abuse researchers and commission reports were read out by well-known actors before Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna, Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern, the President of the Austrian National Assembly, Doris Bures, and other leading politicians.

Before Cardinal Schönborn began to speak, a number of victims called for the statute of limitations, which prevented the prosecution of a number of alleged perpetrators, to be lifted, and for more compensation. The cardinal stood with head bowed while they booed and did not begin speaking until the booing stopped.

He then recalled how, when reports of priestly sexual abuse first hit the headlines, his immediate reaction had been to accuse the media of “making up nasty stories”. He had soon discovered the “bitter truth”, however. “We in both Church and state looked the other way for far too long. We hushed up sexual abuse cases and, when they came to light, moved the perpetrators instead of firing them,” he admitted. “That is why I am thankful to the President of the National Assembly for the courageous gesture of this solemn state ceremony.”

Addressing the victims, he said: “It is for this grievous fault on the part of the Church that I stand before you today and beg you for forgiveness. I bow my head before you and all you have suffered.”