VATICAN CITY
eNCA
VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis on Thursday formed a committee to fight child sex abuse in the Catholic Church in a landmark initiative after thousands of abuses and cover-ups, but campaigners said the new body would be “toothless”.
While the composition and precise tasks of the committee are yet to be established, the Vatican said it could vet future priests and establish codes of conduct and guidelines for responding to allegations.
It could also propose ways of offering pastoral care to victims of abuse and look at ensuring greater cooperation between religious and lay investigators — a key bone of contention in many of the abuse scandals.
The announcement was made by US cardinal Sean O’Malley, one of the eight members of a new council of cardinals set up by Francis to advise him and on whose recommendation the committee is being set up. …
There was immediate support for the move in many parts of the Catholic world, with US priest and blogger Michael Duffy saying: “This is a big deal!”
In Italy, the Famiglia Cristiana weekly said it signalled a “crackdown” by the new pope.
But the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), a US campaign group, said the initiative was “meaningless” and just “a toothless church panel”, arguing secular authorities should deal with clergy sex crimes.
“It’s like offering a band aid to an advanced cancer patient,” SNAP director David Clohessy said.
“Only decisive action helps, not more studies and committees and promises,” he added.
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