Sarah Slater
Up to 7,000 survivors of institutional, clerical, and religious abuse and members of their families have availed of counselling, it has been revealed.
Bishop Michael Router at the Armagh Diocesan Pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady Queen of Ireland, Knock, Archdiocese of Tuam in a homily over the weekend said the Catholic Church is all too aware that many people here in Ireland and abroad, have suffered sexual and physical abuse at the hands of clergy and religious.
Bishop Router said: “For too long they suffered in isolation, without being heard, acknowledged, or helped. Over the past 25 years, however, the Church has, through the organisation Towards Healing that it funds, and its forerunner Faoiseamh, provided a counselling service that almost 7,000 people have availed of, survivors of institutional, clerical, and religious abuse and members of their families.”
The service has a network of counsellors in Ireland and abroad which it engages to provide essential therapy to those who have suffered such abuse. It is a free service available to survivors and one that is based on the values of compassion, empowerment, and hope.
“The compassion comes from a humble recognition of the trauma and suffering experienced by survivors and how it permeates all areas of their lives. Towards Healing provides support that endeavours to empower survivors to reclaim and rebuild their lives. It gives them hope that they will find healing and develop the resilience to live their fullest possible lives,” added Bishop Router
“Ultimately, every good family strives to provide such compassion, empowerment, and hope to its members. Such a family is a reflection of the work of the Trinity in our everyday lives. It is the essence of what Jesus, Mary and Joseph modelled for us in their family and it is our purpose as the family called Church.
“As a Church we have sometimes lost touch with what we are about and have ignored the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. When that happens, we can neglect to display the compassion that should be the kernel of how we operate. A Church without compassion only hurts and alienates people and robs them of confidence and hope.
“Let us pray for the Church in Ireland. As it embarks on its Synodal Pathway may it move closer to the image of our Trinitarian God and model the dialogue, openness and love that will help to heal the wounds of the past and move us forward together in hope”.
Towards Healing, the counselling and support service for survivors of institutional, clerical and religious abuse, is funded by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Association of Leaders of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland.
In 2011 the service succeeded the Faoiseamh counselling service, which had been in operation since 1997. Towards Healing is provided by lay, independent fully accredited therapists, and offers helpline support counselling, practical workshops, restorative justice, facilitated listening meetings and advocacy.
