eni-summary list Ecumenical News International News Highlights 04 December 2002

Report criticises 'institutional failure' of churches on sex abuse

London (ENI). The Christian yearning for reconciliation can lead to damaging pressure on sex abuse victims to forgive their abusers, the churches of Britain and Ireland have been warned. David Gamble, a Methodist minister and moderator of a group that drew up a new report to the churches on the issue, said: "Often we demand that abuse victims forgive - without thinking what this means when the pains and scars have not been addressed." Gamble was speaking at the public launch on 3 December of Time for Action, published by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, an umbrella organisation of 32 churches. [428 words, ENI-02-0041]

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