Sorry not a four-letter word

The Times reported on Wednesday that the future of Lourdes Home was "in the balance". It is not that future which should be in contention, but that of the Dominican nuns among the community which ran the children's home who succumbed to human frailty and perpetrated abuse of and cruelty to the children under their care. Surely, that applies to only a small minority of the nuns. That minority has an account to settle with itself and a merciful God. But it also owes something to its fellow nuns, who risk being tarred with the same brush, and to society.

Lourdes Home in Ghajnsielem was placed under a dark cloud years ago as former residents spoke out about alleged abuses against them. A commission of inquiry was commissioned by Gozo Bishop Mario Grech to investigate allegations of physical and psychological abuse. It confirmed that "in some particular cases there had been inadmissible behaviour involving minors that should have never taken place".

The bishop asked publicly for forgiveness in the name of the Church. Those who had committed the abuse did not do so. Nor did the Mother Superior of the Dominican nuns in their name. When contacted by The Times for their side of the story, the Mother Superior said she had no comment to make; a remark - said the newspaper's reporter, Ariadne Massa - the Mother Superior kept repeating when asked if the nuns were prepared to apologise to the victims of abuse.

What the Mother Superior did say was that they could no longer provide this service (of caring for children in need of it). That function was taken over by Aġenzija Appoġġ.

No one should stand in judgment of others. I certainly will not do that. Nevertheless, the aftermath of the inquiry leaves a lot to be desired in so far as the Dominican nuns go. One understands their predicament. Years of good service to the needy have been tarnished by the bad behaviour of a few of their members. In the wake of the inquiry report, it is very difficult for the nuns to build up trust afresh.

True, but surely that difficulty is not lightened by not offering an apology, by not saying that the guilty individuals have been reprimanded in terms of the order's code of discipline and, preferably, allocated to another location.

Mgr Grech was more forthcoming. He took it upon himself to apologise on behalf of the Church. And he looked to the future with hope, not by turning his back on the tainted past and on the sceptical present.

He told the Church radio station RTK that he wanted the Lourdes Home to continue operating as a children's home. He is right. That, after all, was what it was bequeathed to the Church for. The Bishop said he was working with others to see how this residence could continue operating as a home for children. He declared he understood it was not an easy job. "But we're not here to choose easy jobs, we are here to provide a service to those who need it most," said the good shepherd.

"I am aware that the number of nuns is dwindling but I'm not disheartened," he went on. "With goodwill and support from the state and its agencies, the home can continue to offer this service, which I feel we still need. Where possible, for the time being Lourdes Home will continue operating as a home for children. It is the only such home in Gozo and if it terminated its work, the Church will not only lose a gem in its crown, but society will have lost an indispensable service," he added.

Given the Church's long history of setting up homes for the needy - it did so well before the State woke up to its obligations - that is what one expects from the head of the diocese. Mgr Grech chose his words carefully. That is also understandable. As Pope Benedict was painfully reminded during his visit to the US, the Church is also a human institution. Priests represent God, but they are subject to erring like all of us. When errors surface, rather than saying "there, but for the grace of God, go I", we tend to throw our hands up in horror.

It is of course sad and distasteful to learn of abuse by those who, as God's first servants, should lead by example. But that applies to any human institution, not least in the political sector, or in civil society.

The important thing is not to take anything for granted; to organise institutions, whether religious or lay, in such a manner that administrative transparency is as far as possible ensured; that superiors, while always ready to take to their bosom those who sin, are also prepared to give due attention to signs and reports of behaviour that may have escaped them.

No matter how strict the code of ethics, there will always be human failures. They should be dealt with appropriately, without cant or hypocrisy. And, above all, with humility - by those of us who are not involved in the reported failures, but who should be wise enough not to throw stones. Humility by those responsible for individuals who, in moments of weakness or because of embedded traits of character, forget the beauty of their calling, and shock by commission or omission.

Mgr Grech will not be making the report public. "I'm not a public entity and this was not a public investigation," he said. "I don't feel I have a duty to make it public." I do not think that to do so would help anyone, least of all the victims themselves. As the Bishop said, several people have entrusted the commission with their very personal experiences and in complete confidence.

Nevertheless the report should be made available to the Mother Superior of the Dominican nuns. Even if she remains engulfed in silence towards the public, she might feel that hers is not exactly the best course to follow. One settles personal bills with the Lord, who is more forgiving than any of us. But in the field of social affairs, to say sorry is no sin.