In a compelling presentation coming from Queensland University of Technology, Associate Professor Kelly Richards, together with Dr. Bridget Weir and Stephen de Weger, delved into the complex landscape of restorative justice, sexual misconduct, and the institutional responses of the Catholic Church. The panel, comprising three insightful research projects, unraveled the intricacies of institutional misconduct and the potential healing pathways available.
Dr. Bridget Weir’s research was a poignant starting point. She meticulously analyzed the controversial subject of ‘Child Sexual Abuse and the Catholic Church.’ By employing Techniques of Neutralisation, Weir evaluated the Church’s institutional responses to cases of clergy-perpetrated child sexual abuse. Her findings pointed towards the unsettlingly un-restorative consequences experienced by survivors following Australia’s Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Instead of closure or solace, the survivors often found themselves further marginalized.
Stephen de Weger’s study on survivors of clergy sexual misconduct against adults in the Catholic Church was equally revealing. Drawing from intimate interviews with survivors, de Weger’s research illuminated the flawed nature of the Church’s reporting processes. Expected to be ‘pastoral’ and healing, these processes instead displayed glaring signs of institutional neutralisation. Rather than being avenues for restoration and healing, the survivors encountered an exacerbation of their trauma.
However, amidst these revelations of institutional misconduct and non-restorative responses, Associate Professor Kelly Richards introduced a beacon of hope: Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA). This quasi-restorative program, aimed at reintegrating sexual offenders, became a focal point in Richards’ discourse. Advocating fervently for CoSA, Richards presented it not just as a rehabilitation tool but as a testament to the transformative power of restorative justice. Her argument hinged on the premise that CoSA’s success in diminishing sexual reoffending stemmed from its ability to “re-establish the circuit of reciprocity.” CoSA, as Richards articulated, provides sexual offenders with a chance to experience genuine relationships of mutuality. More importantly, it offers them an environment where they can make amends, giving them an opportunity to contribute positively and redemptively to society.
Kelly Richards, with her deep-seated expertise in restorative justice and her affiliation with the School of Justice at Queensland University of Technology, presented a compelling case. Her emphasis on CoSA served as a reminder of the potential for rehabilitation, even in the most grievous of offenses, when provided with the right environment and support.
In conclusion, the panel discussion orchestrated by Kelly Richards, Dr. Bridget Weir, and Stephen de Weger was not merely academic; it was a call to action. It beckoned for a change in the way institutions, notably the Catholic Church, handle allegations of sexual misconduct. It highlighted the profound need for genuine restorative processes, ones that truly heal rather than exacerbate trauma. Most importantly, the session underscored the profound transformative potential that restorative justice practices, like CoSA, can bring about, making communities safer and more empathetic.
