Church's silence on abuse accusations more damaging than heresy, commentary argues

Silence within the Church, particularly the administrative kind that prioritizes reputation over truth, can be more damaging than heresy, according to a commentary in Večernji List. This type of silence fosters a mentality where truth is treated as an incident and questioning authority is seen as disloyalty.

The commentary highlights a recent case in Croatia where a priest from the Požega Diocese was removed from his duties. This action followed accusations of long-term sexual abuse by a former seminary student. The case gained public attention after media inquiries, leading to the State Attorney's Office launching an investigation.

While acknowledging that guilt has not yet been established and urging careful wording, the article stresses that caution regarding legal proceedings should not lead to carelessness towards potential victims. The commentary suggests that the Church in Croatia has been reminded of the high price of such silence.