Scottish Catholic Observer

The reporting abuse is not just a civil responsibility, but a moral one, the head of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors underlined this week.

“The crimes and sins of the sexual abuse of children must not be kept secret for any longer. I pledge the zealous vigilance of the Church to protect children and the promise of accountability for all,” Cardinal Sean P O’Malley (above), president of the commission, said in a statement to clarify this week, quoting Pope Francis.

On behalf of himself and the other members of the commission, the cardinal reaffirmed that ‘our obligations under civil law must certainly be followed.’

Even beyond these civil requirements, ‘we all have a moral and ethical responsibility to report suspected abuse to the civil authorities who are charged with protecting our society’ he said.

Cardinal O’Malley’s statement after some media reports incorrectly suggested that the Vatican was telling new bishops that they don’t have to report sexual abus to civil authorities. The news reports concerned a statement from Mgr Tony Anatrella from France, who contributed to a 2015 formation course for new bishops organised by the Congregation for Bishops.

Mgr Anatrella, a consultant to the Pontifical Council for the Family and the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers, wrote a document with a section reflecting on countries’ civil laws that mandate abuse reporting. Mgr  Anatrella is said to have suggested that the decision to report cases to civil authorities was up to victims and their families.

In his statement, however, Cardinal O’Malley stressed the importance of reporting suspected abuse and following the guidelines that are in place.

Updated Church safeguarding guidelines in Scotland require abuse allegations to be referred to Police Scotland.

—[email protected]