Pope Francis has asked the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors to produce an annual report analyzing whether recent Vatican measures to prevent and judge cases of sexual abuse have been properly implemented.
POPE FRANCIS
It is necessary for the commission to be very attentive, so that the Church can, not only be a safe place for minors and a place of healing, but also fully trusted in promoting their rights around the world.
The commission will be responsible for creating the process for the report. Since the 2019 abuse summit, the Pope approved several measures and guidelines clarifying how negligent bishops should be judged.
FR. ANDREW SMALL
Secretary, Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors
How do we know change is actually happening? How do we know our children are safer in our Church? How do we know? Is it because we train more people? Is it because we have more fliers?
Well, we think it's all of that, but ultimately verifiable data has to be at the heart of rebuilding trust.
The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors was established by Pope Francis in 2014. Cardinal Sean O'Malley, Archbishop of Boston, is the president of the commission and a leader in combating abuse.
The commission also includes abuse survivors, such as Juan Carlos Cruz of Chile, one of the first to report abuse at the hands of the well-known priest, Fr. Fernando Karadima.
JRB
TR: KG
