The first-ever annual report of the Vatican Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors states that New Zealand, Australia, the South Pacific Islands, North America and Europe have all created adequate structures to address abuse. The report notes that Africa, Asia and South America lag behind in creating these structures due to a lack of Read more
Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Cardinal Seán O’Malley as archbishop of Boston on Monday. He named the bishop of Providence, Rhode Island, Richard Henning, to replace him as leader of one of the most important Catholic archdioceses in the United States. The Vatican announcement didn’t mention O’Malley’s other main role as the pope’s main Read more
Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston has called for the removal from Vatican offices of artwork by Fr Marko Rupnik, a priest accused of sexually abusing dozens of adult women. O’Malley, president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (PCPM), urged Vatican offices to exercise pastoral prudence and avoid displaying Rupnik’s art, which could Read more
When looking at the entire church, it should not be assumed that everyone is on the same page when it comes to abuse. There are cultural differences in the way abuse is handled within the Catholic Church, according to child protection expert Hans Zollner. Speaking to feinschwarz.net, Fr Hans Zollner emphasised that in many countries, Read more
Pope Francis has emphasised the importance of supporting abuse victims amidst growing concerns over the persisting clergy sex abuse scandal within the Catholic Church. During a meeting with the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, the Pope addressed the need for continued efforts in aiding victims. The meeting came as recent events outside the Read more
The Church’s strong anti-abuse protocols are enshrined in law says Jesuit priest Hans Zollner, but they are not being universally applied. “More broadly, the norms adopted by Rome indicate the right direction, but we currently have no mechanism to monitor their implementation.” Zollner, director of the Institute of Anthropology at Rome’s Gregorian University, believes the Read more
In what some call a scathing statement, the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors blasted Church leadership for not delivering on sexual abuse prevention outcomes. The Commission is condemning Church leadership for its glaring failures to prevent abuse. Established by Pope Francis in 2014, the commission has pledged to push church authorities for Read more
The Vatican is inviting New Zealanders to give public feedback to The Vatican’s Child Protection Commission on the Church safeguarding principles. Aimed at creating updated diocesan guidelines, the move opens up the consultation process, historically limited to bishops and church leaders, to a broader base of stakeholders. To collect the feedback, the commission has established Read more
A top anti-abuse expert has highlighted the lack of accountability by the Catholic Church in implementing safeguarding norms established to protect children and vulnerable individuals. While the Church has been praised for its efforts in establishing norms to protect individuals from abuse, “we don’t have a culture of accountability when it comes to the implementation Read more
The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors is undergoing a significant shift towards a more impact-focused direction, according to Cardinal Seán O’Malley of Boston, the commission’s president. The commission held its plenary assembly in Rome from May 3-6, during which they discussed various topics and made several important decisions. According to the commission’s May Read more