JORDAN PROJECT
ABUSE OF POWER IN THE CHURCH
I Jordan International Conference 2024
ABOUT THE JORDAN PROJECT
It is a scientific research project on the structural causes of abuse of power (conscience, authority, sexual, etc.) within the Catholic Church, from a theological-spiritual perspective.
Commissioned by the Provincial of the Society of Jesus in Spain to UNIJES (Jesuit Universities Spain) in 2020, is co-financed by Porticus.
It is framed in the ecclesial context of research promoted by Pope Francis in 2018 when he considered the sexual abuse of minors as the visible face of a structural problem of the church.
The Society of Jesus, in its GC36 (2019) included in its Second Apostolic Preference (Walking with the excluded) its commitment to work in this field. Since that same year, the Province of Spain began its work on intervention and prevention of abuses through its Safe Environment System.
With the Jordán project, he takes another step in the academic field. Starting from theological reflection, its objective is focused on detect abusive systemic dynamics to help deactivate them, as well as the emotional, structural, institutional and legal needs that beat at the bottom of the abuses. From a dialogue between the research staff and the victims, perpetrators and members of the institution, he wants develop proposals for prevention and healing based on evidence. And with this, contribute to generating a culture of good treatment and an ethic of pastoral conduct in the Church.
ACTUALITY
News
The Jordán project has participated, through its coordinator, Prof. PhD. Valeska Ferrer, in the III Latin American Congress "Vulnerability and abuse: Towards a broader view of prevention" , which took place in Panama City on the 12th , March 13 and 14, 2024.
The Congress organized by CEPROME together with the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM) and the Archbishopric of Panama has been a success of teamwork.
The almost 400 participants have been able to access quality training thanks to the participation of top-level lecturers in the field of abuse of power in the Church. In addition to the training and the possibility of sharing projects and learning, both a Eucharist and a prayer and celebration of life were held.
It has been a great wealth to be part of a living community of learning in which victims, lay people committed to prevention and the creation of a culture of good treatment, religious men and women, bishops, archbishops and cardinals have walked together; a whole model of working together on an equal footing.
Monograph:
Building ecclesial spaces free of abuse
In this monograph we offer what we are working on and discussing as a research team. This first contribution accounts for part of the results. They are contributions from Jordán researchers. We continue working with the objective of presenting a joint, team contribution.
A path to justice and hope
"The social problem of sexual abuse
affects all sectors and institutions of
the society. It is one of the
most adverse developmental experiences
traumatic and worrying for minors
and adults from all over the world" (Xavier Jeyaraj SJ, John Guiney SJ and Sandra Racionero-Plaza PhD)
"No one who has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under the bed, but puts it on the candlestick so that those who enter can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be discovered, nor anything secret that not become known and made public"
(Lk 8,16-17)