Pope Francis has appointed Mr Bill Kilgallon to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
Kilgallon is the Director of the National Office for Professional Standards of the Catholic Church in New Zealand.
Dr. Krysten Winter-Green, another New Zealander now resident in the United States, has also been appointed to the Commission.
Bill has lived in New Zealand for the last four years.
Prior to that he had a long career in social work and health services in the United Kingdom.
“In accepting this role I’m very aware of the responsibility it entails as the Church across the world learns from the past, brings together best practice and works to make changes now and for the future,” Kilgallon says.
In a statement, published following its first meeting, the Commission said “from the very beginning of our work, we have adopted the principle that the best interests of a child or vulnerable adult are primary when any decision is made.”
Kilgallon said “This is certainly true for my contribution to this work.”
Winter-Green has a post-graduate degrees in Theology, Human Development, Social Work, Religion and Pastoral Psychology. She has served in dioceses around the world with homeless persons and those living with AIDS.
She is presently working for the Archdiocese of Boston.
Her concentration in the areas of child abuse include forensics, assessment and treatment of priest/clergy offenders.
Commenting on Kilgallon’s appointment, Archbishop John Dew, President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said, “It is pleasing to us that a New Zealander can contribute to the very important work of the Commission,”
Dew said that New Zealand is fortunate to have some one with such international experience and professionalism as Kilgallon
“He can now contribute through the work of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors whose aim is to propose the necessary changes to ensure the protection of minors throughout the global Church.”
“As he begins this work we offer our congratulations and prayerful support to Bill and the people and work of the Commission.”
Dew was speaking on behalf of all the New Zealand Catholic Bishops.
The Commission has also gained a second abuse survivor and several women.
The next plenary session of the Commission will take place in the Vatican from 6-8 February 2015.
See: Complete List of members of Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
Read: Press release from the New Zealand Catholic Bishops
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