UNITED KINGDOM
The Tablet
18 February 2015
Pope Francis, who has called for zero tolerance for the “despicable” crime of sexual abuse of minors, has praised new efforts aimed at helping the Church better protect children.
In a letter to Fr Hans Zollner SJ, president of the Centre for Child Protection at Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University, the Pope said he was “happy about what you are doing and I sincerely congratulate you.”
Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley read the letter out at a news conference on Monday inaugurating the official launch of the centre’s new premises and its activities. The launch followed a three-year pilot project phase.
The centre offers an onsite and online prevention and child protection programme and diploma, which will be available from next year.
It was established in 2012 as a way to help build awareness and train religious and lay leaders globally about the problem of abuse.
The Gregorian University that year hosted an unprecedented conference aimed at addressing the Church’s response to the abuse scandal.
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