Benedict's New Appointment a Potential Ray of Hope for Clergy Abuse Survivors
Last week's appointment of Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes as the new Prefect of the Congregation for Clergy caught many veteran Vatican watchers by surprise. Hummes replaces Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, a 77-year-old Colombian who was seen as a staunch conservative and a close ally of the former Pope John Paul II. In his dealings with the clergy abuse scandal, Hoyos was characteristically out of touch. He blamed the media and stated that the crisis was largely isolated to the United States.
Hummes' appointment might signal a new era for survivors of sexual abuse. Hummes has been known as a progressive thinking Brazilian whose friends include Brazil's left-wing president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Hummes has also allied himself with a brand of theology (liberation theology) considered anathema by the Vatican. Hopefully, this new appointment will usher in a new era of dialogue and openness toward survivors and their families.