March 28 | 
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Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors instituted
Pope Francis instituted the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors last Saturday, and named a victim of clergy sexual abuse as one of its members.
“Pope Francis has made clear that the Church must hold the protection of minors amongst Her highest priorities,” Fr Federico Lombardi, the director of the Holy See’s press office, said. “Today, to carry forward this initiative, the Holy Father announces the names of several highly qualified persons who are committed to this issue.”
The first eight members, four women and four men, hail from eight different countries and include Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley and Baroness Sheila Hollins, a British psychiatrist. The abuse victim in the group is Marie Collins (above), who was abused in her native Ireland in the 1960s and has campaigned for the protection of children and for justice for victims of clerical paedophilia.
A statement from the Vatican press office noted that the members’ ‘principal role will be to prepare the statutes of the commission, which will define its tasks and competencies. Other members will be added to the commission in the future.’
Fr Lombardi also stressed Pope Francis’ desire to carry forward the work begun by his predecessors, Blessed Pope John Paul II and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
He went on to highlight the commission’s work that will be done in light of ‘looking to the future without forgetting the past.’
The commission’s approach will include ‘education regarding the exploitation of children; discipline of offenders; civil and canonical duties and responsibilities; and the development of best practices as they have emerged in society at large.’
Although the creation of the commission was announced in December of 2013, it was unknown until now who would belong to its membership.
The full list of members is: Dr Catherine Bonnet of France; Marie Collins of Ireland; Professor and Baroness Sheila Hollins of the UK; Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley OFM Cap of Boston; Professor Claudio Papale of Italy; Professor and former Prime Minister Hanna Suchocak of Poland; and Fr Humberto Miguel Yanez, SJ.
—This story ran in full in the March 28 edition print of the SCO, available in parishes.
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