Warsaw September 19-22, 2021

OUR COMMON MISSION OF

SAFEGUARDING
GOD’S CHILDREN

A Conference of the Church in Central and Eastern Europe

O konferencji

Our Common Mission of Safeguarding God’s Children – this is the theme of the international conference gathering representatives of Episcopal Conferences and professionals working in the field of child and youth protection in nearly 20 countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

It is another of the continental or regional conferences organized by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

The conference is dedicated to issues related to the Church’s response to the crisis of the sexual abuse of minors. It will also be an attempt to look at a certain post-Communist mentality and its impact on the approach to the issue of the sexual abuse of minors by members of the Catholic clergy.

To be discussed during the conference are topics related to prevention, intervention (reporting abuse and implementating existing procedures described in the Motu Proprio Vos estis lux mundi) and proven best practices already adopted and in use in other parts of the Church, and what still needs to be implemented to ensure the maximum protection to minors.

Another aim of the conference is the exchange of experiences and the networking of people involved in the field of the protection of minors to establish closer collaboration.


Aktualności


What’s next. Cooperation has just begun!

What’s next. Cooperation has just begun!

The conference “Our Common Mission of Safeguarding God’s Children” held on September 19-22 in Warsaw ended with a proposal for further cooperation among the Churches of Central and Eastern Europe in the broadly understood work…

The conference from the perspective of the participants

The conference from the perspective of the participants

Father Marek František Drábek O.Praem from the Czech Republic and sister Agnieszka Ewa Jarkowska SCdSC from Slovakia: Konference ve Varšavě — 1. den Konference ve Varšavě — 2. den Konference ve Varšavě — 3. den…

Delegate of the PBC, Archbishop Wojciech Polak: the crisis caused by exploitation affects the essence of the Church community

Delegate of the PBC, Archbishop Wojciech Polak: the crisis caused by exploitation affects the essence of the Church community

I think that all of us gathered here today strongly believe that what we have experienced together in recent days is important and good, and that we all needed it. Personally, I am grateful for…

PRESS RELEASE – summary

PRESS RELEASE – summary

The effective protection of minors requires the cooperation of all who form the Church –emphasized during the international conference “Our Common Mission of Safeguarding God’s Children,” which concluded today in Warsaw. During the four-day meeting,…

The presentation by Prof. Myriam Wijlens

The presentation by Prof. Myriam Wijlens

Prof. Dr. Myriam Wijlens, professor of canon law in Erfurt and a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, analyzing the canonical legislation, pointed out the need for a responsible approach by…

Fr. Grzegorz Strzelczyk: Distrust. Notes on the Theological Dimension of the Consequences of Sexual Abuse of Minors

Fr. Grzegorz Strzelczyk: Distrust. Notes on the Theological Dimension of the Consequences of Sexual Abuse of Minors

Christianity is born out of Easter events, and therefore out of a direct experience of contact with Jesus who gathers the disciples, announces the coming of the Kingdom, dies, rises again and gives the Holy…

PRESS RELEASE Conference on the Protection of Minors  in the Churches of Central and Eastern Europe – Day 3

PRESS RELEASE Conference on the Protection of Minors in the Churches of Central and Eastern Europe – Day 3

The theological consequences of the sexual abuse of minors by clergy were discussed on the third day of the international conference “Our Common Mission of Safeguarding God’s Children” in Warsaw.  Its participants also shared experiences…

Msgr Tomáš Halík – IN ANIMO CONTRITO. The phenomenon of abuse in a wider context

Msgr Tomáš Halík – IN ANIMO CONTRITO. The phenomenon of abuse in a wider context

In a spirit of humility and with a sorrowful heart – in spiritu humilitatis et in animo contrito – we want to touch on one of the most painful wounds of the Church. Even the…

PRESS RELEASE from Conference on the Protection of Minors in the Churches of Central and Eastern Europe – Day 2

PRESS RELEASE from Conference on the Protection of Minors in the Churches of Central and Eastern Europe – Day 2

The responsibility of pastors and the need for a profound conversion in the face of sins and crimes of sexual abuse of minors committed by clergy were discussed on the second day of the international…

Testimony – father Tarsycjusz Krasucki OFM

Testimony – father Tarsycjusz Krasucki OFM

I am expected to give my testimony here. Well then, I’ll be talking about what I have experienced. However, in the beginning I  have to confess that I don’t like testifying. This reminds me my…

PRESS RELEASE from Conference on the Protection of Minors in the Churches of Central and Eastern Europe –  Day 1

PRESS RELEASE from Conference on the Protection of Minors in the Churches of Central and Eastern Europe – Day 1

In his video message, Pope Francis encouraged the participants of the conference on the protection of minors in the Church of Central and Eastern Europe, which began on Sunday, September 19 in Warsaw, to listen…

Address by Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki,  President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference at the International Conference of the Church in Central and Eastern Europe  “Our common mission of safeguarding God’s children” in Warsaw

Address by Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference at the International Conference of the Church in Central and Eastern Europe “Our common mission of safeguarding God’s children” in Warsaw

At the beginning of our meeting, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all participants, starting with Cardinal O’ Malley and the commissioners of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, who…

Video message of His Holiness Pope Francis

Video message of His Holiness Pope Francis

Video message of His Holiness Pope Francis on the occasion of the meeting organized by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and by Polish Bishops’ Conference: Our common mission of safeguarding God’s children…

A Conference of Central and Eastern European Churches

A Conference of Central and Eastern European Churches

“Our Commission travels to Warsaw to be with the churches in Central and Eastern Europe, to listen to them, learn about their reality and help them chart a course forward in the protection of children…

‘Our Common Mission’: a regional meeting on the protection of minors

‘Our Common Mission’: a regional meeting on the protection of minors

Since early 2017, Professor Hanna Suchocka and other Members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors have been organizing a regional meeting on the protection of minors for Central and Eastern Europe to…

The challenge of sexual abuse: What has happened since the February 2019 Summit

The challenge of sexual abuse: What has happened since the February 2019 Summit

In February 2019, Pope Francis invited the presidents of every episcopal conference to the Vatican for a Meeting on the Protection of Minors in the Church to address the issue of the sexual abuse of…

Soon a Conference on the Protection of Minors in the Churches of Central and Eastern Europe

Soon a Conference on the Protection of Minors in the Churches of Central and Eastern Europe

In less than two weeks, on September 19th, an international conference organized by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and the Polish Bishops’ Conference will begin in Warsaw. It will be attended by…



Organizatorzy


Konferencja organizowana jest z inicjatywy Papieskiej Komisji ds. Ochrony Małoletnich (PCTM), a na jej współorganizatora została wybrana Konferencja Episkopatu Polski.
Konferencję współfinansują Konferencja Episkopatu Polski i Fundacja Świętego Józefa KEP.


KARDYNAŁ
SEÁN O’MALLEY OFMCAP.

Przewodniczący Papieskiej Komisji
ds. Ochrony Małoletnich

ARCYBISKUP
STANISŁAW GĄDECKI

Przewodniczący Konferencji
Episkopatu Polski

Komitet organizacyjny



Uczestnicy


Konferencja gromadzi przedstawicieli Konferencji Episkopatów, wyższych przełożonych zgromadzeń zakonnych męskich i żeńskich oraz osoby świeckie z blisko 20 krajów Europy Środkowej i Wschodniej. Weźmie w niej udział również przedstawicielka Katolickiej Agencji Pomocy na Europę Wschodnią „Renovabis”.

Celem konferencji jest wymiana doświadczeń i nawiązanie bliższej współpracy zarówno pomiędzy poszczególnymi krajami, jak również pomiędzy poszczególnymi krajami a Papieską Komisją ds. Ochrony Małoletnich.

 



CEICM - Międzynarodowa Konferencja Episkopatu Świętych Cyryla i Metodego
(Serbia, Czarnogóra, Macedonia Północna, Kosowo)

Członkowie i pracownicy Papieskiej Komisji ds. Ochrony Małoletnich - 11

Przebieg spotkania


Międzynarodowe spotkanie w Warszawie ma charakter roboczy. Konferencja ma umożliwić wymianę doświadczeń i zainicjowanie wspólnych działań oraz bliższą współpracą Kościołów w środkowo-wschodniej części Europy w zakresie zapobiegania nadużyciom seksualnym. 



MODLITWA I ŚWIADECTWA

Na początku i na końcu każdego dnia konferencji przewidziana jest chwila wspólnej modlitwy. W trakcie konferencji odbędzie się Liturgia Pokutna, a w środę koncelebrowana będzie Msza św. wieńcząca konferencję. Przewidziany jest również czas, aby wysłuchać skrzywdzone przez duchownych osoby pochodzące z różnych krajów.

PREZENTACJE

Podczas konferencji zaprezentowanych zostanie 9 wykładów. Zgodnie z motywem przewodnim każdego z dni konferencyjnych, skupią się one wokół zagadnień: odpowiedzialność – rozliczalność – przejrzystość, a każdy z tych tematów zostanie poruszony w 3 prezentacjach, ukazujących daną kwestię w odniesieniu do: - osoby biskupa i jego obowiązków; - relacji biskupa z innymi biskupami; - relacji biskupów z ludem Bożym i społeczeństwem.

PRACA GRUPOWA

Poza wysłuchaniem krótkich referatów uczestnicy będą pracować w grupach językowych, dzieląc się tym, jak wygląda kwestia ochrony małoletnich w poszczególnych krajach – zarówno w zakresie prewencji, jak i w zakresie działań pomocy poszkodowanym. Uczestnicy przyjrzą się również wyzwaniom, jakie stoją przed Kościołami tej części Europy.

PAPIEŻ FRANCISZEK

Pierwszego dnia konferencji uczestnicy wysłuchają orędzia Ojca Świętego Franciszka.

Prelegenci


Prelegenci zostali dobrani tak, aby podczas konferencji mogły być reprezentowane różne kontynenty, kultury i konteksty w Kościele.



Cardinal SEÁN O’MALLEY OFMCap.

Cardinal SEÁN O’MALLEY OFMCap.

PCPM - United States

Archbishop of Boston, President of the Commission, member of the Council of Cardinals that advises Pope Francis

Archbishop STANISŁAW GĄDECKI

Archbishop STANISŁAW GĄDECKI

Poland

Metropolitan of Poznan, President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference

Archbishop WOJCIECH POLAK

Archbishop WOJCIECH POLAK

Poland

Metropolitan of Gniezno, Primate of Poland, Delegate of the Polish Bishops’ Conference for the protection of children and youth

Prof. MYRIAM WIJLENS

Prof. MYRIAM WIJLENS

PCPM - Netherlands

Prof. PAWEŁ WILIŃSKI

Prof. PAWEŁ WILIŃSKI

PCPM - Poland

TERESA MORRIS KETTELKAMP

TERESA MORRIS KETTELKAMP

PCPM - United States

Moderatorzy