Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors concludes first meeting
(Vatican Radio) The members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors
held their inaugural meeting May 1-3 at Domus Santa Marta in Vatican City. As was
previously announced, the purpose of the meeting was to make recommendations to the
Holy Father regarding the Commission’s functions and to propose additional members
from different parts of the world. The members who took part in the meeting are Catherine
Bonnet, France; Marie Collins, Ireland; Sheila Baroness Hollins, United Kingdom; Cardina
lSeán Patrick O'Malley O.F.M. Cap., United States; Claudio Papale, Italy; Hanna
Suchocka, Poland; Humberto Miguel Yáñez, S.J., Argentina; and Hans Zollner, S.J.,
Germany.
At the end of the meeting, during a Briefing at the Holy See Press
Office, the following statement was issued on behalf of the Commission:
“As
we begin our service together, we wish to express our heartfelt solidarity with all
victims/survivors of sexual abuse as children and vulnerable adults and to share that,
from the very beginning of our work, we have adopted the principle that the best interests
of a child or vulnerable adult are primary when any decision is made. During our
meetings, each of us have been able to share our thoughts, experiences, and our aspirations
for this Pontifical Commission. Responding to our Holy Father’s requests, these discussions
focused on the Commission’s nature and purpose and on expanding the membership to
include people from other geographical areas and other areas of expertise. Our conversations
included many proposals for ways in which the Commission might collaborate with experts
from different areas related to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. We also
met with some people from the Roman Curia regarding areas for future cooperation,
including representatives from the Secretariat of State, the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith, the Congregation for the Clergy, the Vatican Press Office,
and the Vatican Gendarmerie.
As an advisory commission to the Holy Father,
the fruit of our work will be communicated to Pope Francis. In time, we will propose
initiatives to encourage local responsibility around the world and the mutual sharing
of “best practices” for the protection of all minors, including programs for training,
education, formation, and responses to abuse. We have also shared with Pope Francis
how important certain areas are to us in our future work. We see ensuring accountability
in the Church as especially important, including developing means for effective and
transparent protocols and processes.
We will propose Statutes to the Holy
Father to express more precisely the Commission’s nature, structure, activity, and
the goals. It is clear, for example, that the Commission will not deal with individual
cases of abuse, but we can make recommendations regarding policies for assuring accountability
and best practice. In the Statutes, we plan to make specific proposals regarding the
importance of emphasizing ways for raising the awareness of all people regarding the
tragic consequences of sexual abuse and of the devastating consequences of not listening,
not reporting suspicion of abuse, and failing to support victims/survivors and their
families.
As the Catholic people make our parishes, schools, and institutions
safe for all children, we join with people of good will in our endeavour to ensure
that children and vulnerable adults are protected from abuse. We request the prayers
of all who wish to support the work of the Commission.”
Listen to press
conference with Cardinal O'Malley, Marie Collins, and Fr. Hans Zollner, SJ: