Admin l Friday, June 01, 2018
SANTIAGO, Chile – A catholic group in Chile, the Good Samaritan Sisters is in great pain over coverup in massive sexual abuse scandal that rocked the Catholic Church in Chile. It appologised and vowed to do all it can to mitigate the painful consequence.
Already Chilean bishops have resigned enmass over the incident awaiting communication from Pope Francis.
“The Good Samaritan community will do everything in its power to mitigate the painful consequences of these regrettable events”, the group said in a statement, adding that the measures it took when the incident came into the open and the attitude it demonstrated “were not at the height of our mission and vocation, in the image of Jesus. We had to welcome and accompany, and we did not. We had to provide guarantees so that these facts were not repeated, and we did not do so at the time”, the Good Samaritan Sisters said.
To prevent a repeat of the incident, the group said Mother General, Patricia Ibarra Gómez, has taken a series of measures, which include the instruction of a canonical investigation to review the situations denounced.
“We have also contacted the National Council for the Prevention of Abuse and the Diocesan Commission of Prevention to adequately address these terrible and painful situations, and we will work on a protocol to prevent abusive situations of all kinds”, the group noted.
See full statement below translated from Spanish to English.
The Congregation of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan wishes to report the following:
1. In relation to the denunciations made by Consuelo Gómez Pinto, a former religious of our Congregation, we expressed with sorrow that we knew the story of the serious events that occurred within our religious community, the measures we took and the attitude we had then were not at the height of our mission and vocation, in the image of Jesus. We had to welcome and accompany, and we did not. We had to provide guarantees so that these facts were not repeated, and we did not do so at the time.
2. We apologize to Consuelo Gómez Pinto, our sister in Christ. We ask for it with humility and knowing that this request alone does not repair the damage caused.
3. In order to act in justice and prevent this type of events from recurring, Mother General, Patricia Ibarra Gómez, has taken a series of measures, which include the instruction of a canonical investigation to review the situations denounced. We have also contacted the National Council for the Prevention of Abuse and the Diocesan Commission of Prevention to adequately address these terrible and painful situations, and we will work on a protocol to prevent abusive situations of all kinds.
4. With regret, we pointed out that not always in our religious community the authority was exercised correctly, for this reason, for two years we began a process of integral renewal of the Congregation.
5. We will continue with more strength and love serving the poor that nobody wants to help, to help the terminally ill and to accompany them in their pain and in a good death. Our love to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Good Samaritan, help us and lead us to collect with love the brother fallen on the road.
6. The Good Samaritan community will do everything in its power to mitigate the painful consequences of these regrettable events.
