VICTIMS of child sexual abuse must forgive their abusers, a leading theologian has claimed.Professor Eamon Conway, the head of Theology and Religious Studies at Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, and also a Catholic priest, was speaking in Dublin's Trinity College last night.
During the talk, 'Roman Catholic Church and Child Sexual Abuse -- Explaining without Excusing', Prof Conway said that forgiveness from victims of abuse for their perpetrators was "an important part" of the healing process.
"Now it may be considered too early to speak about forgiveness. It's certainly difficult to even raise the issue of forgiveness for offenders and those who have abused their office, but surely at some point, these have to be our goals and we can't settle for anything less.
"We have to embark on a process of repentance leading to forgiveness. True forgiveness brings us to a situation where there are only winners because both parties are restored to their most true and authentic selves."
He added: "Difficult and unpalatable as it may be to consider, we also have a duty of care to the perpetrators."
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