Pope Francis: His Words and His Actions Don’t Coincide, and Catholic Clergy Sexual Abuse Remains a Crisis

Catholic Whistleblowers
March 2, 2017

http://www.catholicwhistleblowers.com/

It appears that the safety of children and vulnerable adults is not a priority to Pope Francis. As Pope, he has all the power and authority he needs to make things happen in the Catholic Church. But in matters of clergy sexual abuse he has failed, perhaps because of his reluctance to walk in the shoes of the victims / survivors. Actions speak louder than words.

On March 1 Marie Collins of Ireland resigned from Pope Francis’ Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. She is the second victim / survivor of clergy sexual abuse as a minor to step away from this commission. The other is Peter Saunders of Great Britain who took a leave of absence from the group about one year ago.

In her public resignation comments Marie indicated that her dismay lies mainly in both the continued reluctance of the Vatican Curia to implement recommendations of the commission that the Pope had approved, and in the failure of Pope Francis to follow his own norms for holding accountable culprit bishops and religious superiors who negligently handled clergy sexual abuse allegations. Peter spoke similarly when he stepped away from the commission in February 2016.

The Catholic Whistleblowers Steering Committee congratulates and thanks both Marie and Peter for their courage and prophetic leadership.

Moreover, we realize that the Catholic Church is not competent to remedy its clergy sexual abuse crisis and scandal. Thus, the civil governments must act, be that at the federal, state, or local level.

Actually, Australia's Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that has functioned so productively these past few years provides an excellent example of what is needed. And we strongly support any and all civil authorities who establish such commissions. It’s about protecting minors and vulnerable adults.

Here is the link to the public statement by Marie Collins as presented in the National Catholic Reporter https://www.ncronline.org/news/people/exclusive-survivor-explains-decision-leave-vaticans-abuse-commission