The “Culture of Silence, in the contemporary society is a sad phenomenon, that must be frown against and prevented in its wide range of abuse in the society. According to Monsignor Charles J. Scicluna, the teaching of Blessed Pope John Paul II, posited that the truth is the basis of Justice and explicate why the culture of silence or “Omerta” is in itself very wrong and unjust in the society. Therefore, any promoter of justice must guide against what looks like a peculiar trend in the contemporary society.

It is interesting to observe that “Omerta” is a term used to describe the code of conduct of silence practiced by member of the “Mafias” click. In the “Silence of Culture” Pope John Paul II, did outlines five principles that may inform the actions of those saddle with the responsibility to investigate the allegation of any form of abuse, as to serve as the best guide, not only in the church but also in the society at large on the “Moral and Legal duty”

The first Principle, which state that “Justice is at times called truth” which implies that the culture of silence must be rejected. This is true because the principle requires the very facts to establish the “spirit of fairness” for both “the alleged victim and the accused”. There are those enemy of the truth in their “deliberate denial of known facts and misplaced concern”, that the good name of the institution should somehow be allowed to enjoy the absolute priority to the detriment of legitimate disclosure of crimes .(David Kerr,2012).

Then second Principle, which state that, “justices based on truth evoke a response from the individual conscience”. According to Mgsr. Sciclun, the very “acknowledgment and recognition of the full truth of the matter in all its devastating and consequences, no doubt, is the very “source of the true healing for both the victim and perpetrator”.

The same is true that, although, expert in psychology may have explicate how and why perpetrators are often able to develop a “coping mechanism” such as denial but the fact remains that, there is no “substitute” for the liberating effect on any conscience that may emanate from “full, humble, honest and contrite acknowledgment of sin, crime and the very responsibility for the harm and trauma caused to the victim, family and the society.

In this perspective, there is a “radical need” on the part of all, for the victim to be granted an audience, to understood, to be believed and ultimately to be treated with dignity in the tiresome journeys of healing and recovery. Opcit.

The third Principle, was that “truth generate confidence in the rule of law, while any form of disrespect for the truth generate distrust and suspicious. With these principles the Pontiff, will be remembered in the promulgation of, according to Mgsr. J .Sciclun, what come to be called the 2001, Motu proprio, “Sacramentorum sanctitatis” that tends to update and strengthen the Church’s law in dealing with allegations and incident of abuse in the society.

Therefore, it is not always enough, in the promotion of peace and order in the community, but people need to know that the law is being applied.
The forth Principle is the preposition through which Pope John Paul II, in his address of 1994 posited the duty of the church “ towards the common good, which include the safety of the children that must be of “ paramount concern, to understanding the common good” with the duty to cooperate with the state authorities and the civil society. [b][/b]

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