The Union of Superiors General, an association of men's religious communities, and the International Union of Superiors General, a comparable group for women, yesterday in Rome stated that the "problem" of sexual abuse of nuns by priests in developing world countries was both "known about" and being confronted.
Allegations of widespread sexual abuse of nuns by priests, mainly in Africa, were made by the current edition of US weekly, National Catholic Reporter (NCR) (www.natcath.com). Citing a number of "internal" reports written over the last decade by senior members of women's religious orders and by an American priest, the NCR alleges that the problem touches on 23 countries, mainly African, but also including Ireland.
In a strongly worded joint statement the two non-Vatican bodies, while acknowledging the problem, defended the spiritual, social and cultural commitment of missionary workers.
The statement concluded by repeating the words of the Vatican senior spokesman, Dr Joaquin Navarro-Valls, who on Tuesday said that these "negative incidents" should not detract from the "heroic" work of the vast majority of nuns and priests:
"The strength of consecrated life lies in the fact that, in concrete terms and in everyday life, nuns and priests are able to faithfully follow their choice of chastity, poverty, obedience and service . . . The passion for the Kingdom of God is not a slogan but rather a living daily reality that takes [nuns and priests] into places where no one else has the courage to go.
"In relation to the current media reports relative to cases of sexual abuse suffered by nuns, the two unions underline, as pointed out by the Vatican spokesman yesterday, that the `problem is known about'. The two unions have not remained indifferent and are taking concrete steps [to deal with the problem]."
Earlier yesterday, a senior Curia figure told The Irish Times that there was "nothing new" in the NCR's allegations, adding that the Holy See was all too aware of the shortcomings of a "small minority" of African priests.