“When three years ago I accepted my appointment in the commission, I said that if I had found a conflict between what was happening behind closed doors and what was being said publicly, I would not have stayed. This has happened and this is why I have left.” Marie Collins’ home phone in Dublin is Read more
Pope Francis has issued a new law specifying that a bishop’s negligence with regard to clergy sexual abuse can lead to removal from office. In a motu proprio released on Saurday, the Pope empowered several Vatican dicasteries to investigate such bishops and initiate processes of removal, subject to papal approval. In a preamble to the Read more
A member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors has detailed two instances where she believes the Roman Curia has frustrated reform. Marie Collins, an abuse survivor, referred to commission’s proposal that a Vatican tribunal be set up hold bishops to account for their handling of abuse cases. This was approved by the Read more
Two Chilean prelates conspired to block a well-known sex abuse survivor from being named to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Leaked emails from 2013 and 2014 between Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati of Santiago and his predecessor Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz showtheir efforts to block the appointment of Juan Carlos Cruz. The cardinals feared Read more
A member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors says the slow progress in some of its work is because of Vatican culture. Abuse survivor Marie Collins told the Irish Times that the commission has made good progress in some areas, but in others, progress has been “very slow”. “My expectation was that Read more
In a rare move, the Vatican has publicly defended the recent appointment of a controversial bishop accused of covering up child abuse in Chile. The Vatican press office stated: “Prior to the recent appointment of His Excellency Msgr Juan de la Cruz Barros Madrid as bishop of Osorno, Chile, the Congregation for Bishops carefully examined Read more
New mechanisms could soon be proposed to remove prelates who don’t follow Church guidelines on preventing and reporting abuse of children. A member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, Marie Collins, said accountability of bishops is her main priority in this role. The 17 member commission met in Rome over the weekend. Read more
A papal commission to protect children is to have another survivor of clerical sexual abuse join its membership. The Commission for the Protection of Minors, which Pope Francis established in December, will also have more representatives from other countries and disciplines. Irish abuse survivor Marie Collins is already a member of the commission, headed by Read more
An initiative to give spiritual accompaniment to survivors of clerical sex abuse has been set up in Ireland. Towards Peace was launched on May 25 in Cork with a Mass of healing and reconciliation. The initiative seeks to help survivors re-engage with their faith. It is being rolled out regionally in Ireland over the next Read more