It’s been more than a year since the explosion of reports of abuses in the church were uncovered. Since then, there have been outcries for justice for the survivors of the abuse, and calls for penalization of the perpetrators. Many have shared their stories and testimonies, while others stand with them in solidarity in the pursuit of justice.
I believe that while the reports and continual coverage have been great aids in corroborating the crimes that have been committed, we as Catholics have a constant duty to do all that we can to advocate for a believe survivors. In the book of Proverbs we find these words: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy” (31:8-9). It is our duty to continue to fight alongside those survivors so that they are not alone in their struggle for justice. It is imperative not to let the stories of the survivors die with them, but to keep ourselves informed, believe survivors, and speak out when they cannot. Educating ourselves on church history can also help us know the effects of the abuse on a certain culture or community.
In my “Exploring the Irish” class, we learned about the Catholic Church’s complicated relationship with the Irish. One of the reasons for this fractured relationship has to do with the concept of Magdalene Laundries. These were institutions run by the Catholic Church in Ireland for women who had “fallen away” in society and whose families feared that they would not act accordingly. Once a woman was put into a laundry, there was no opportunity for her to leave unless her family claimed her or she had a job opportunity.
Women who were admitted lived and died in there without a chance to live their own lives, as laundries had terrible conditions and many offenses and abuses were committed within their walls. Many people living on the very streets where these laundries lay had no idea of their existence. It was not until reports—like the McAleese Report in 2013—that women began to tell their stories. The individuals who ran these laundries were Catholic nuns who deceived themselves into believing that the abuses against these women were right and justified for a common good: the preservation of a pure, ulitariation Ireland.
Until my class, I had no idea about the existence of the laundries or about the fractured relationship between the Catholic Church and Ireland. To this day, the fight continues to have the proper recognition from the Church for the survivors of such institutions. As a Catholic, it breaks my heart to hear these stories, but they must be told. It is our duty, not only as Catholics but simply as human people, to stand with survivors, pursue justice, and ensure that nothing like this ever happens again.
I find that as I hear more and more of these stories, I am humbly reminded not to be complacent in prayer or in aiding others, but to be ready to embrace my neighbors with open arms. I am also reminded of the importance of fostering an environment that believes and supports survivors, and I strive to do daily what the prophet Micah writes: “To live justly, love mercifully and love humbly with your God” (6:8).
Featured image courtesy of Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin via Wikimedia
Ejuma is a 2018 graduate of Boston College and is a current master's student in the Mental Health Counseling Program in the Lynch School of Education and Human Development. As an undergrad, she majored in English and Women’s and Gender studies. Even though she has lived among Patriots fans for the past five years, she is very loyal to her home team, the Baltimore Ravens. Ejuma is passionate about mental health and wellness, women’s rights, social justice and racial issues. In her free time, she can be found catching up on her favorite shows, This is Us and Modern Family, baking or going for a run.
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