An absent member of the Pope’s commission to protect minors hopes to eventually lead a victims and survivors panel on the commission. British campaigner Peter Saunders said the idea of the panel was suggested by commission head Cardinal Sean O’Malley. Mr Saunders was encouraged to resign from the commission after he questioned Pope Francis’ commitment Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Peter Saunders’
Abuse survivor asked to step aside from Pope’s commission
Tuesday, February 9th, 2016
A clergy abuse survivor was asked to step aside from the Pope’s commission to protect minors after a clash over the group’s work and mission. According to an Associated Press report, Peter Saunders said the members of the 17-person Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors asked him to step aside, with one abstention. This Read more
Church attitude to smacking kids raised with Pope
Tuesday, November 17th, 2015
Former Irish president Mary McAleese has raised the issue of the Church’s attitude to corporal punishment of children with Pope Francis. Ms McAleese’s revelation that she did this came as Ireland’s parliament last week removed the common law defence of “reasonable chastisement” of children. In an interview, the former Irish president said she raised with Read more
’60 Minutes’ slams Church leaders for backing Pell
Tuesday, June 9th, 2015Australia’s 60 Minutes current affairs programme has described senior Catholic churchmen as “out of touch” for supporting Cardinal George Pell. Journalist Tara Brown opened the programme on Sunday with an editorial stating Church leaders had alienating victims of abuse by issuing statements supportive of the cardinal. “The Catholic Church in Australia stands in crisis,” Ms Read more
Concerns Pell controls Pope’s child protection body’s funds
Friday, June 5th, 2015
A member of the Pope’s commission to protect minors has expressed concern that Cardinal George Pell is in charge of the body’s finances. Peter Saunders had previously called on the Pope to sack the cardinal, following accusations that resurfaced at a royal commission hearing in Ballarat. Cardinal Pell has repeatedly denied claims that he moved Read more
Vatican backs controversial bishop accused of abuse cover-up
Friday, April 10th, 2015
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
Sex abuse victim offers to lead pontifical commission
Tuesday, March 17th, 2015
A victim of clergy sexual abuse has offered to lead the Vatican’s child protection commission in Rome. Peter Saunders, a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, told The Tablet he would like to see the commission have wider powers. He would like to see the commission’s remit extended so it is Read more
Papal commission member hints at new ways of firing bishops
Tuesday, February 10th, 2015
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