From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Mar 7: Dealing with cases involving sexual abuse of minors by priests and religious and implementation of anti-sexual harassment policy as well as child protection policy are new sections in the completely revised Pastoral Handbook of the Bengaluru Archdiocese, which is being implemented in the Archdiocese of Bengaluru with effect from this month.
The 736-page revised pastoral handbook since the publication of the first edition in 2009, according to the Archbishop Dr Bernard Moras, contains a few "new additions that are found to be essential for effective and better pastoral ministry."
Some of the new additions and guidelines based on the Code of Canon Law and the latest thinking in the Catholic Church as enunciated by the present Pope Francis are certainly worth implantation in other dioceses as well.
The pastoral handbook has been "revised and updated to maintain currency and relevance," the Archbishop said pointing out that the main objective was to "set the framework for the planning and designing of new ministries and upgrading the existing ones. The priestly character is the root of the specific action of the sacred minister, who acts in the person of Christ as his extension, on behalf of the local and universal community, he said.
Archbishop Moras said the pastoral handbook represents a continuing effort to systematize and streamline the pastoral and financial administration in the Archdiocese. The directives given in the pastoral handbook and other guidelines given for the Archdiocesan Educational Institutions, administration of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre at the Paalana Bhavan, Bengaluru Multi-purpose Social Service Society, the Family Welfare Centre and the various commissions and associations will remain in force until their revision, the Archbishop said.
The entire pastoral handbook divided into two sections dealing with the Pastoral Manual and Finance Manual comprises of a total of 33 chapters with a large number of annexures besides a brief historical account of the formation of the Archdiocese. The handbook also mentions the constitution of two new Archdiocesan Commissions for Migrants and the Disabled taking the total number of Commissions in the Archdiocese to 20.
The new chapter on dealing with cases involving sexual abuse of minors by priests and religious lays down the norms for dealing with such cases and the policy as well as procedures to be followed regarding sexual misconduct by Archdiocesan priests, deacons and seminarians.
The other chapter on anti-sexual harassment policy is rather elaborate as it incorporates preamble, introduction, definition of sexual harassment, forms of sexual harassment, preventive steps, complaint mechanism, confidentiality, conflict of interests, victimisation, information, education and training, non-waiver of statutory rights, submission of annual reports and review.
The new chapter on child protection policy to be followed in the educational institutions governed by the Archdiocesan Board of Education (ABE) is also elaborate with introduction, aim of the child protection policy, how to protect children, instruction in schools, protection against sexual misconduct, duties of an institution, procedure for lodging a complaint, dispute resolution prior to enquiry, charge-sheet and enquiry, rules of evidence before complaints committee and so on.