Friday, March 29, 2024

Popular News

HomeNewsVaticanPont Commission for the Protection of Minors ‘feel supported’ by Pope’s letter

Pont Commission for the Protection of Minors ‘feel supported’ by Pope’s letter

Members of the Vatican Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (PCPM) issued a statement on Tuesday, just one day after Pope Francis’ letter to all the People of God.

The Commission begins by saying it is encouraged by Pope Francis’ letter and thanked him for “his strong words recognizing the pain and suffering endured by people who have suffered sexual abuse, the abuse of power and the abuse of conscience perpetrated by some members of the church”.

Zero tolerance and accountability

In addition, they state that “members of the Commission feel supported by the Holy Father’s call…to ‘implement zero tolerance’ ” and to make accountable “ ‘those who perpetrate or cover up’ ” crime. The PCPM said that they heard reinforced in Pope Francis’ letter their own message that “zero tolerance and accountability are a pre-requisite in safeguarding vulnerable people from abuse”.

Abuse of power

Commission member and canon lawyer Prof. Myriam Wijlens summarized Pope Francis’ letter into three points. The first is the clearly expressed “connection between sexual abuse, abuse of power and abuse of conscience” which, Prof Wijlens says, “many do not want to see connected”. Second, is that the abuse of power has two levels: “There are those who use their position to sexually abuse minors and vulnerable adults and…those in leadership positions” who cover the abuse up.

Children’s safety comes first

The third point Prof. Wijlens write of is that a looking backward approach consisting of “asking for pardon and seeking repair” is not sufficient. The approach that looks forward “implies asking for a radical change of culture where the safety of children enjoys top priority”. She says that the Church’s reputation requires “putting the safety of children first”, a task requiring “radical change” which “the clergy alone will not be able to bring about”. Thus the need for “humility” and of asking for and receiving “help from the whole community”, Prof. Wijlens concludes

Popular News

Pope to Catholics in Holy Land: May hope arise from seeds sown in pain

Pope Francis expresses his spiritual closeness and paternal affection, and encourages Christians around the...

Pope prays for victims of terrorist attack in Moscow

Pope Francis offers his prayers for the victims of Friday’s terrorist attack on a...

Pope at Audience: Virtue of prudence leads us toward holiness

During his Wednesday General Audience, Pope Francis continues his catechetical series on virtues and vices, turning to the virtue of prudence and saying Jesus urges to be prudent in order to become "intelligent saints."

Pope Francis entrusts wars in Ukraine and Holy Land to St. Joseph

On the day after the Feast of St. Joseph, Pope Francis entrusts the cause of peace to the intercession of St. Joseph, the holy spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, urging all sides to "make every effort to negotiate an end to war."