Holy See denounces UN report’s ‘negative approach’ to Vatican child protection
Feb 6, 2014: Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Holy See’s representative to the UN in
Geneva, has denounced “a really negative approach” by the UN’s Committee on the Rights
of the Child to all that the Vatican “has been doing and has already achieved” in
the area of child protection. Stressing that every single case of child abuse is “a
case too much,” the Archbishop said it’s hard to find “other institutions or even
other states” that have done as much for child protection as the “package of measures”
taken by the Vatican and local bishops conferences.
Archbishop Tomasi was responding
to a report, published on Wednesday, criticizing the Vatican for policies which it
says allowed priests to sexually abuse thousands of children worldwide. It follows
on from a meeting between the UN Committee and Holy See representatives in Geneva
on January 16th.
A statement issued by the Vatican press office also says the
Holy See takes note of comments contained in the new report, but expresses regret
over what it terms “an attempt to interfere with Catholic Church teaching on the dignity
of human person and in the exercise of religious freedom.” It stressed the Holy See
remains committed to defending and promoting the rights of children, according to
the principles set out in the UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Archbishop
Tomasi said the Committee appears to have difficulty understanding the teachings of
the Catholic Church regarding the protection of life in the womb and the freedom for
believers to express their deeply held convictions. He noted the UN report asks the
Church to accept the practice of abortion, something he described as “a contradiction
with the principle of life” that the UN Convention itself should be upholding, that
is the protection of children before and after birth.
The Archbishop added
that, as a state party to the UN Convention, the Holy See intends to continue “carrying
out all the elements” for the protection of children and explaining its position to
the UN Committee.
In December American Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston announced
that Pope Francis was establishing a new commission on child protection and care for
victims of abuse. He said it would work closely with church leaders worldwide to develop
best practices, building on the norms that Bishops Conferences and other religious
organizations have already been asked to draw up to ensure the safety of children
and vulnerable adults in dioceses across the globe.