The Vatican is calling Cardinal George Pell’s conviction of sexual abuse of minors’ as “painful”, saying it “shocked many people”. In a statement, the Vatican acknowledges the “utmost respect for the Australian judicial authorities” and says the Vatican is waiting for the outcome of the appeals process. It says, (Pell) “has the right to defend Read more
The Catholic Church is aiming to be a model in terms of involvement in resolving sexual abuse issues. The goal is to find in the Church “a source of strength” that can offer its knowledge and expertise to the world. Read more
Pope Francis has renewed the mandate of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors two months after the Commission became inactive. During his recent trip to South America, Pope Francis addressed concerns about the expiry of the Commission’s mandate, saying the time taken to nominate members to the body was normal. He has reappointed Read more
Mr Bill Kilgallon, director of the National Office for Professional Standards of the Catholic Church in New Zealand, has been attending a meeting in Rome of The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. He was one of three people to speak when Pope Francis met with the commission face-to-face for the first time. Together Read more
Pope Francis has told the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors he has been learning “on the job” better ways to handle priests found guilty of abuse. He admitted this during his first face-to-face discussion with the Commission on September 21. The Pope said he has come to regret agreeing to a more lenient Read more
Pope Francis’ commission on clergy abuse is considering whether to restructure itself so that it no longer includes the direct participation of abuse survivors. An option the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors is considering involves the possibility of creating a separate advisory panel of individuals who have been abused by clergy. Read more
Facing reality about issues of child abuse is a crucial part of child protection, says Hans Zollner S.J. Father Zollner is both President of the Centre for Child Protection of the Pontifical Gregorian University and a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. He says the detailed report about allegations of sexual Read more
Editor’s note: Marie Collins of Ireland is a clergy sexual abuse survivor who resigned March 1 from Pope Francis’ Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Cardinal Gerhard Müller, the head of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, gave an interview shortly following Collins’ resignation. Collins has written an open letter to Read more
The Curia is blocking Pope Francis’s Commission for the Protection of Minors, says Marie Collins. Collins is the only clerical sex abuse survivor serving as an active member on the Commission. She said she is stepping down because the group’s work is being “hindered and blocked by members of the Curia.” She cited lack of Read more
The Vatican’s new anti-abuse expert says Pope Francis is “not wavering” in his efforts to formulate anti-sex abuse policies for the Catholic Church. “If the pope was wavering, I don’t think he’d give the commission the support he’s been giving it,” said Teresa Kettelkamp, referring to the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Read more