Insights: Our Intention
The courage to listen to:
• ourselves
• each other
• the Spirit
In the response to the issue of sexual abuse in our community in the hope of addressing together our emerging needs.
Insights: a Forum to Discuss the Impact of Abuse by Some Clergy - What is Insights?.
Insights in 2011
Behind the Headlines - Insights Gatherings 2011
During 2011, the Insights Team will be working on the following projects:
Project 1: Develop opportunities to hear the stories of those directly affected by abuse by clergy or other church personnel in order to share the impact with the broader community to promote understanding, healing, forgiveness and trust.
The Insights team is aware of some people directly affected by abuse who wish to tell their stories. Believing in the power of story for both the teller and the listener, the Insights team will investigate safe and creative opportunities for interested participants to tell their stories. It will explore the possibilities of using audiovisual media such as DVDs to facilitate this storytelling.
Project 2: Provide information about what procedures the Diocese is legally required to follow when allegations of sexual abuse are made in relation to clergy or Diocesan employees.
What laws and what external authorities determine and oversight these processes and investigations? What is Zimmerman House's role in this process? Apart from investigations and legal requirements what does Zimmerman House offer to those directly affected by abuse? (Note:
In response to the changing needs, Zimmerman House and its child protection and healing services have evolved into a more holistic response, collectively known as the Zimmerman Services.)
Project 3: Develop processes to facilitate conversations in response to the wide range of issues identified during the Insights Gatherings.
The Insights gatherings highlighted the reality that abuse occurs within complex institutional, spiritual and cultural contexts. The Insights Team will consider implementing appropriate processes to enable discussion around some of the many identified related issues within the church.
Project 4: Offer further Insights gatherings to interested parishes/regions.
To find out more about the gatherings, click here.
Project 5: Offer a retreat entitled Courage To Be - a time of reflection and prayer.
One of the most elusive yet distressing impacts of the sexual abuse of children by clergy in our diocese has been on our spirit. Questions, confusion, anger, fear, emptiness and despair have welled up for many. The grief experienced at the loss of faith and trust has left many wandering aimlessly in a sea of doubt and sadness. Rituals seem empty, prayer barren; the faith that has sustained many doesn't seem to work anymore.
Those who have previously participated in an Insights gathering are invited to come aside for a while, in the tranquil setting of the Stroud Monastery, and listen to their hearts, the hearts of others and the heart of God's Spirit.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, suggestions or feedback regarding the Insights team’s plans for 2011 or any other aspect of Insights:
E: insightsteam@mn.catholic.org.au
P: 02 4940 8091
Insights Gatherings (09-10): Participants' Comments
In late 2009 and early 2010 seven Insights gatherings were held throughout the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. Below you will find some links to the thoughts and suggestions participants identified for the Church. This material is presented as closely as possible to its original form, however, wording has sometimes been altered to improve readability. Comments have also been grouped under a number of themed headings. The recorded comments are wide-ranging and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.
Faith and Faith Formation - click here.
Healing, Forgiveness and Rebuilding Trust - click here.
Prayer and Ritual - click here.
Our Diocese, Bishop and Clergy - click here.
Those Directly Affected - click here.
Church Reform - click here.
Information and Education - click here.
Communication and Media - click here.
The Insights Process - click here.
Reflections on Insights by Dennis Hunter-Papp.
Resurrecting hope from the abyss of abuse by Catherine Mahony
To contact the Insights team
E: insightsteam@mn.catholic.org.au
P: 02 4979 1384
