VATICAN CITY
NPR

[with audio]

FEBRUARY 09, 2015

SYLVIA POGGIOLI

A commission advising Pope Francis on how to tackle clerical sex abuse of minors has completed its first full meeting at the Vatican. The commission, which has been criticized for its slow start, says it’s
Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston, head of the commission, told reporters it’s drafting practical recommendations on making bishops accountable for cover-ups and failure to prevent abuse.

“Obviously,” he said, “there has to be consequences and there needs to be procedures that will allow these cases to be dealt with in an expeditious way.”

No details were revealed, but the cardinal said the recommendations are almost ready and will “then be presented to the Holy Father and hopefully implemented.”

The commission comprises 17 lay and clerical members from around the world, including two people who were abused as children by priests.

Its key tasks…