CRISIS IN THE CHURCH: ETHICAL PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

In order to overcome the crisis emerged from sexual abuse of minors by clerics, the Church needs to review its structures, concept of priesthood and style of priestly formation, emphasized the Association of Moral Theologians of India (AMTI). The 28th annual meeting and conference of the Association of Moral Theologians of India, held from 18th to 20th October 2019 at Joe Beach Family Resort and Conference Centre at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, had the theme, “Crisis in the Church: Ethical Perspectives” in the Context of the Sexual Abuse Scandal in the Church. Instead of cover ups and trivialization of abuses, the Church needs to respond to the issue with transparency, accountability and traceability, underscored the moral theologians. In this regard, the guidelines given by Vatican and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) are commendable, but dioceses and religious communities need to take steps for an awareness campaign, and to address directly the abuse by the clergy and religious.