Vilnius Archdiocese to train staff to spot sexual abuse

The Vilnius Archdiocese will hold training on recognising and responding to sexual abuse on October 13 and 27, LRT reports. The sessions are intended for clergy, parish and Christian organisation staff and volunteers, and catechists.

Psychologists from the State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service will lead the training. The archdiocese said sexual abuse is among the hardest forms of violence against children to identify, and that young people who have experienced it may feel shame, guilt or fear that they will not be believed. It said adults need to recognise signs of abuse and know how to help.

Church plans internal investigation

Lithuanian bishops decided in late September to launch an inquiry into sexual abuse in the Church. The Vilnius Archdiocese said last week it was consulting the Holy See and Lithuanian law enforcement authorities on the inquiry’s scope.

Archbishop Gintaras Grušas said at a meeting earlier this month that the inquiry would seek to establish how many crimes against minors and vulnerable adults had been committed in the Church in Lithuania since March 11, 1990.

Clergy at the meeting were also reminded that people whose duties bring them into direct or regular contact with minors must have a QR code confirming their legal right to work with children. The archdiocese said it had prepared parish leaflets setting out six principles for creating a safe environment, adults’ responsibility to respect children’s boundaries and how to respond if a child reports possible abuse.

Two priests face charges

The bishops’ decision followed criminal cases involving two priests who worked in the Vilnius Archdiocese reaching court. Tadas Švedavičius is charged with 34 alleged offences involving the sexual abuse of children, possession of pornographic material and involving children in drinking. The crimes are suspected of having taken place over more than 20 years.

In a separate case, priest Ryšardas Peciunas is charged with possessing pornographic material. The Vilnius Regional Court began examining his case on its merits in mid-September.