Child abuse
“Zero tolerance” – this is the principle that the Church intends to apply “irrevocably and at all levels” to all child abuse cases. In the written address handed out at the beginning of the audience granted to the members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, Pope Francis reiterated once again that the Church will respond “with the application of the firmest measures to all those who have betrayed their call and abused the children of God”. “The disciplinary measures that the particular Churches have adopted – the speech reads – must apply to all those who work in the institutions of the Church”, without exception, since “the primary responsibility lies with bishops, priests and religious, those who have received from the Lord the vocation to offer their lives to service, including the vigilant protection of all vulnerable children, young people and adults”. Hence the topicality of the Motu Proprio “Like a loving mother”, promulgated by the Pope on the basis of a proposal by the Commission, which, in line with the principle of responsibility in the Church, addresses “the cases of diocesan bishops, eparchs and major superiors of religious institutes who, through negligence, have carried out or omitted acts that may have caused serious harm to others, whether individuals or a community as a whole”. Over the past three years, the Pope remarked, the Commission “has consistently emphasised the most important principles guiding the Church’s efforts to protect all children and vulnerable adults”. In this way, “it has fulfilled its mission” as “an advisory body at the service of the Holy Father”. Pope Francis also praised the fact that many particular Churches have adopted the Commission’s recommendation “for a Day of Prayer, and for a dialogue with victims and survivors of abuses, as well as with representatives of victim organisations”. Also praiseworthy is the cooperation of many Episcopal Conferences and Conferences of Major Superiors in implementing the Guidelines for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults. Finally, the Pope praised the presentation made last week to the new bishops by Cardinal O’Malley and Mrs. Marie Collins, one of the founding members of the Commission.
