SLI President Attends Vatican Symposium on Child Abuse

Rev. Stephen J. Rossetti, President and CEO of Saint Luke Institute, was invited by the Vatican to attend a symposium on child sexual abuse sponsored by the Pontifical Academy for Life. The symposium was held at the Vatican from April 2 - 5, 2003.

L to R: Dr. Wunibald Mueller, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger,
Rev. Stephen J. Rossetti

Present were eight internationally recognized psychiatric and medical experts who presented papers at the meeting. The experts, none of whom are Catholic, were drawn from Germany, the United States and Canada. They were Dr. Karl Hanson, Dr. William Marshall and Dr. Ron Langevin from Canada. Dr. Friedemann Pfafflin, Dr. Christian Reimer, Dr Hans-Ludwig Krober and Dr. Jorg Fegert came from Germany, and Dr. Martin Kafka came from the USA. These experts presented papers on the clinical nature and treatment of adults who sexually molest minors. They discussed risk factors for relapse and initial screening procedures. They also discussed the harm done to victims.

L to R: Rev. Stephen J. Rossetti, Archbishop Elio Sgreccia,
Vice President of the Pontifical Academy for Life,
Cardinal Francis Arinze, Very Rev. Canice Conners, OFM Conv.

Lay experts stressed the efficacy of treatment and said that treatment does work in many cases. They indicated that "one size does not fit all" and that child molesters are very different in diagnoses, treatment responsiveness and recidivism. They believed that many offenders, after treatment and with proper supervision, could be successfully re-integrated into society with minimal risk. However, there are other offenders who are at high risk for relapse. Thus, each situation must be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Officials from the Vatican Secretariat of State and the congregations for doctrine, clergy, Catholic education, religious and bishops were present and addressed questions and made comments on the presentations made by the experts. Comments by Vatican officials emphasized the abhorrence that the Church has toward acts of sexual abusing minors and the need to ensure the safety of minors.

Canice Conners, OFM Conv, former president of Saint Luke Institute and the U.S. Conference of Major Superiors of Men was also invited.

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