Pope Francis encouraged the papal commission tasked with combatting clergy abuse to move forward in their efforts to make the Church a safer environment for both minors and vulnerable adults.
Acknowledging that it is easy to feel discouraged when confronting the realities of the sexual abuse crisis, the pope told the the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors on Thursday morning that “our commitment must not wane.”
“Indeed, I encourage you to move forward so that the Church will be, always and everywhere, a place where everyone can feel at home,” Pope Francis said.
Underscoring the importance of listening “firsthand” to abuse victims, the pope stressed to the body that “we cannot help others to bear their burdens unless we shoulder them ourselves, unless we show genuine closeness and compassion.”
“In our ecclesial ministry of protecting minors, closeness to victims of abuse is no abstract concept but a very concrete reality comprised of listening, intervening, preventing, and assisting,” the pope continued.
The pope also spoke on the importance of bringing greater visibility to the commission’s work.
“People should know and see how you are accompanying local Churches in their ministry of safeguarding minors. Your closeness will strengthen local ecclesial authorities to share best practices and verify that adequate measures have been taken,” the pope observed.
Francis highlighted the commission’s annual report as well as the Memorare Initiative as two examples of how the body’s work has assumed a “more defined shape” in making the Church “an increasingly safe place for minors and vulnerable adults.”
The Memorare Initiative was launched by the PCPM in 2023 in order to assist local Churches, namely in the global South, in training programs as well as in guiding abuse prevention policies. In December 2023, the commission approved a grant of 230,000 euros to help institute “safeguarding initiatives” in several countries including Paraguay, Panama, and Mauritius, and to the Association of Members Episcopal Conference in Eastern Africa (AMECEA).
“This is a very concrete way for the commission to demonstrate its closeness to the leadership of these Churches,” the pope explained. “This will create a network of solidarity with victims and those who promote their rights, especially where resources and experience are limited.”
The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (PCPM) was established by Pope Francis in 2014 following a meeting with the Council of Cardinals as an advisory body “to propose initiatives to the Roman Pontiff … for the purposes of promoting local responsibility in the particular Churches for the protection of all minors and vulnerable adults.”
In 2022 the commission was placed within the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), in line with Pope Francis’ apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium, which reformed the governance of the Roman Curia, the administrative arm of the Holy See. However, the PCPM still reports directly to the pope through its president, Cardinal Seán O’Malley, archbishop of Boston.
The pope also pointed to the body’s compliance with his apostolic letter Vos Estis Lux Mundi, which established a new set of norms for the universal Church concerning the procedural handling of sexual abuse cases, as another example of the body’s work in bringing tangible action.
“I have already asked you to ensure compliance with Vos Estis Lux Mundi so that reliable means are in place for welcoming and caring for victims and survivors as well as for ensuring that the experience and witness of these communities support the work of protection and prevention,” the pope remarked.
Vos Estis Lux Mundi was promulgated in 2019 and established on an experimental basis for a period of three years new norms to counter sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. In 2023, the pope made the norms permanent and expanded its reach to also cover lay leaders of international associations of the faithful recognized by the Vatican.
However, some victims have questioned the effectiveness of these reforms, even suggesting that a culture of silence persists and victims remain sidelined.
In February two alleged abuse victims of disgraced former Jesuit mosaic artist Father Marko Rupnik spoke at an emotionally-charged press conference in Rome, highlighting what they perceived as the Vatican’s intransigence when it comes to listening to victims.
“We are sorry because the institutions, instead of taking inspiration from our experience to review their way of acting, continue to close themselves in silence,” said Marjiam Kovač, a Slovenian-born former sister of the now-dissolved Loyola Community who has accused Rupnik.
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“Pope Francis to clergy abuse commission: ‘Our commitment must not wane’” Give me a break — what hypocrisy. His “commitment” never began except in words and only extended to protecting a mob of sexual abusers in Argentina and the Vatican. If there were real bishops and cardinals in the Church today, he would be in a cell in Castel Sant’ Angelo.
Dining room talk, not meant to be taken seriously, in light of serial resignations:
Peter Saunders, then Marie Collins, and mist recently Fr. Zollner:
https://www.bishop-accountability.org/2023/03/jesuit-sex-abuse-expert-hans-zollner-resigns-from-papal-commission-over-urgent-concerns/
Or, just ask “Reverend” Rupnik.
And Rupnik? Not so much. At least Pope Francis is consistent in his inconsistency. He passes judgement upon himself.
The Holy Father needs to make it clear that priest who abuse their position can expect no support from the Catholic Church in the way of housing and income, excluding legitimate pensions.
If a teacher abuses his position the school concerned will not be paying their salary and giving them accommodation for the rest of their lives.
Forgiveness is fine but its not a free pass to excuse wicked behaviour. Only the victims can grant true forgiveness. The Church can grant forgiveness in the confessional, following true repentance, but it cannot grant forgiveness on behalf of the victim, that is an arrogant perversity in the eyes of lots of victims.
We had a case in Scotland, 2013, when the most senior cleric was accused of abusing junior clerics. Even to the point of using the confessional to exploit these mens vulnerability’s, which is downright demonic.
He resigned of course but was housed in a very comfortable bungalow 20 miles across the English border, and at the Churches expense, for the rest of his life. Actually it wasn’t the Church’s money it was money donated by lay people, the Church only has money given to it by Catholic lay people.
Non Catholics, (and Catholics) look at examples like this and just laugh at the Church’s pious claims not to tolerate abuse.
It’s always a good exercise to shed clerical robes and put yourself in the shoes of the victims and listening to our Pope granting forgiveness to the person who has ruined your life. A salutary experience I can assure you.
Every time one points a finger at another, he points three back at himself. It holds true for all: the Pope, and both you an me. Perhaps, just perhaps from God’s point of view there’s not a lot of difference between our sins.
Nice words …. for a politician!
The actions being taken by the Vatican and many Bishops throughout the church are, in reality, token attempts to address an issue via behavioral restrictions, educational interventions, and policing-like policies rather than address the real issue:
MORAL DECAY!
Christ’s admonition to his disciples was to be spiritual leaders. They were to preach God’s Word as given to us in the Bible, point out sinful behavior, call people to repentance and spiritual conversion, and help establish a spiritual connection between them and God through the Sacraments.
Today, the church appears to be more focused on membership, contributions, popularity, and SJW issues rather than salvation through the conversion of sinners. Even Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has declared that he is reluctant and fearful of calling a sin a sin because society may not “like” the Catholic Church. The current mantra of the Catholic Church has de-evolved to: “Let’s convert to the ways of the world, and forget about converting the world to God!”
The Church Hierarchy appears to be intent on seeking social acceptance and what they call “modernism” over the unpopular focus on Christ’s actual message. Their efforts appear more focused on the behavioral actions of their priests than the moral decay of their souls! They deny that it is our Moral Character that best controls our behavior rather than external rules, laws, and restrictions.
Even our seminaries are out of focus! Less time is spent promoting “spirituality”, living God’s Law of Morality, Truth, Justice, and Salvation than on the social and political correctness that needs to enter and control the church in order for the church to become modern and socially acceptable.
Reverence for God and His Laws, calling people to a meaningful relationship with God through right living, and encouraging a spiritual conversion witnessed in their daily behavior, have all been lost through an actively promoted advocacy for SJW action and involvement in the community.
Jesus Christ came to save sinners and call them to repentance! He never advocated for His disciples to become SJW warriors and change the political, social, or cultural standards within the world.
The Pope, and the entire church hierarchy, need to look at and address the increasing moral decay within the church, especially within the clergy, rather than spending their efforts in setting up external controls over them!
Let us pray as the people of God, and work at a grassroots level, to promote a spiritual conversion within our church. Let us call our clergy to right living and follow those priests who are faithful to Christ’s Message of salvation through repentance and conversion with a mighty “AMEN” …. in word and action!
Vos Estis Lux Mundi certainly has credibility if only in addressing those “performing sexual acts with a minor or a vulnerable person”. Although the preeminent issue was never attacked by this pontificate, which is the networking of adults, priests, bishops, and cardinals who are active homosexuals, or at least homosexual by predilection. It’s the establishment of these cabals by homosexuals as well as a pontificate that appoints homosexual prelates to executive positions at the Vatican that subdues Vos Estis’ effectiveness [“some victims have questioned the effectiveness of these reforms, even suggesting that a culture of silence persists and victims remain sidelined”]. An attempt was made in the US by then president of the USCCB Cardinal DiNardo and the result was his castigation and humiliation by Pope Francis, effectively replacing his authority with Francis’ accomplice Cardinal Cupich.
Our Church is subject to this continuous proclamation of excellent proposals while similarly operating undercover in the promotion of adult clergy homosexual relationships. Voices are starting to be heard in protest [imagine a Church in protest within itself because of egregious mismanagement] which is a good thing. The refreshing, wonderful, widespread refusal to follow Fiducia Supplicans a testament that the Catholic Church Ain’t Dead Yet.
Not only was Cardinal DiNardo castigated and humiliated, but the much earlier and significant warning apparently was ignored and then never even mentioned later while researching and drafting the 2002 Dallas Charter. (https://www.padreperegrino.org/2023/05/the-original-canceled-priests/.
The book: “The Homosexual Network: Private Lives and Public Policy” (The Free Congress Research and Education Foundation, published by the Devin Adair Co., Old Greenwich, Connecticut, 1982). In 1982 (!), and with encyclopedic and minutely detailed documentation and twelve appendices. From the above link, apparently Fr. Rueda was suspended sometime after 1982 for having authored the book.
Thanks for this input. Fr Enrique T Rueda, a Cuban priest assisting in the Diocese of Rochester NY was suspended by Bishop Matthew Clark 2011. Matthew Clark was a friendly person who was liberal or perhaps easy going, tacitly allowing innovations around the altar. I met him in Rome when he gave us seminarians circa 1977 a retreat. Likable, easy to converse with. He was appointed bishop of Rochester 1979. Apparently Fr Rueda must have lodged complaint about innovations to the liturgy to the bishop resulting in his suspension. Bishop Clark died recently 2023. My prayers were with him.
John Paul II and Benedict simply weren’t prepared to take on the entrenched homosexual networks [bishop Clark was not identified with that issue] revealed to the world by Fr Rueda. That effort would have required a Gregory the Great or Cyril of Alexandria. Had we by fortune of providence such a Roman pontiff we might not be where we are today.
Did he have a straight face when he uttered these words?
I’ll know that Francis is serious about this when James Martin SCH is laicized.
Several years ago, I stopped listening to what the current occupier of Peter’s Chair says and instead look at what he does. He says the Church’s commitment to victims of clerical sexual abuse must not wane? Tell that to the victims of Rupnik, still a priest and living, if I’m not mistaken, in Francis’ own See. The most honest prayer I can muster for this man is that God will open his eyes before He closes them. This papacy has become a self-parody. It would be funny if it weren’t so tragic.