Protection of Minors and the Vulnerable Adults: Call for Solidarity

To give information and update on the important issue of sexual scandals in the Church, a seminar workshop on the Protection of Minors and vulnerable adults was held last November 20, 2021, at the Adveniat House. It was attended by all the AA brothers here in Manila. The speaker of the said event is Fr. John Era of the Congregation of Mission (Vincentian). Fr. John is a professional psychologist whose ministry is accompanying victims of sexual abuse by the clergy or other people. He is also assisting priests and seminarians who are experiencing crises and other psychological-based difficulties in their personal and ministry. The activity commenced with the prayer and the rationale. In the first part of the seminar-workshop, Fr. John gave an update on the sexual abuse situation in the Church and in the Philippines. In the second part, Fr. John asked the participants to identify helpful ways to avoid committing this kind of abuse. The participants were divided between the formators and the formandees.  All gave valuable suggestions and shared insights on the topic. A simple lunch was served after the said activity.