Pope Francis approves creation of commission for protection of children
December 06, 2013 - Pope Francis has approved the creation of a special commission
for the protection of children. The suggestion was made by the eight-member Council
of Cardinals during their meeting at the Vatican, and presented to the Holy Father,
who subsequently approved its creation. US Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Archbishop of
Boston, a member of the council, told reporters Thursday afternoon that the creation
of the new body continues "decisively along the lines undertaken by Pope Benedict
XVI." The new commission for the protection of minors will have the aim of "advising
Pope Francis on the Holy See’s commitment to the protection of children and in pastoral
care for victims of abuse,” the cardinal told reporters. The commission will look
into current programmes that are in place for the protection of children, as well
as formulating new initiatives on the part of the Curia. It would also collaborate
with bishops, episcopal conferences and religious on the initiatives. “The composition
and competences of the Commission will be indicated shortly, with more details from
the Holy Father in an appropriate document,” the cardinal said. The American prelate
also listed the lines of action that the new commission will undertake which include
guidelines for the protection of children, formation of seminarians and priests, protocols
for environmental safety codes of professional conduct and proof of suitability for
priestly ministry. Cardinal O’Malley highlighted that the Commission will look into
and develop the pastoral care for victims and their families, spiritual assistance,
mental health services, and collaboration with experts in the research and development
of the prevention of abuse of minors, psychology, sociology, legal sciences. In
an address to visiting Dutch bishops in the Vatican on Monday, Pope Francis expressed
his closeness with the victims of sex abuse and their families, urging support for
them in the process of healing. The announcement of the commission by Pope Francis
came after the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child criticized the
Vatican for refusing to share details of its internal investigations into abuse cases.
In a response the Vatican said that it was up to local bishops and dioceses to implement
programmes to protect children, not the Holy See, which is separate entity. In January
the UN committee is scheduled to question the Holy See with regard to the 1990 U.N.
Convention on the Rights of the Child, which the Holy See has signed. Thursday
was the final day of meetings of the Council of Cardinals, of which Indian Cardinal
Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay is also a member. The next meeting will take
place February 19-21 and will follow the next day with the consistory of the College
of Cardinals.