Scottish Catholic Observer

A senior Vatican official told the UN that the Church acknowledges the horror of clerical abuse, and is serious about protecting children, on the same days as the Holy Father said those who abuse have no ‘living relationship with God.’

Testifying before the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child today, Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Vatican observer to UN agencies in Geneva, said the Church recognises abuse of children, sexual or otherwise, as both a crime and sin, and the Vatican has been promoting policies that ‘when properly applied, will help eliminate the occurrence of child sexual abuse by clergy and other Church personnel.’

Archbishop Tomasi (above) spoke today in Geneva during the committee’s annual session that review reports from states that signed the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Holy See signed the treaty in 1990.

“There is no excuse for any form of violence or exploitation of children,” the archbishop said. “Such crimes can never be justified, whether committed in the home, in schools, in community and sports programmes, in religious organisations and structures.”

Papal statement

Pope Francis, in a homily at his early morning Mass today, spoke about the shame of the ‘many scandals’ perpetrated by members of the Church. Those who abuse and exploit others, he added, may wear a Holy medal or a Cross, but they have no ‘living relationship with God or with His Word.’

Archbishop Tomasi told the UN committee that, in December, Pope Francis approved the establishment of an international commission to promote child protection and prevent abuse. He added that the Vatican City State recently updated its laws to define and set out penalties for specific crimes against minors, including the sale of children, child prostitution, the military recruitment of children, sexual violence against children and producing or possessing child pornography.

In late November, the Vatican responded in writing to questions from the committee about its last report on compliance with the treaty; much of the Vatican response involved explaining the difference between the Vatican’s direct legal jurisdiction over Vatican City State and its moral and canonical influence over Catholics around the world.

“Priests are not functionaries of the Vatican,” Archbishop Tomasi told the committee. “They are citizens of their own state and fall under the jurisdiction of that state.”

Fr Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said in a statement that questions posed by the committee and others ‘seem to presuppose that bishops and religious superiors act as representatives or delegates of the pope, something which is without foundation.’

Abuse in society

Archbishop Tomasi also acknowledged today that ‘abusers are found among members of the world’s most respected professions, most regrettably, including members of the clergy and other church personnel.’

Abuse by clergy, he said, is ‘particularly serious since these persons are in positions of great trust, and they are called to levels of service that are to promote and protect all elements of the human person, including physical, emotional and spiritual health.” “This relationship of trust is critical and demands a higher sense of responsibility and respect for the persons served,” he concluded.

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