ROME
Premier
Fri 05 Feb 2016
By Aaron James
An abuse campaigner has said it would be “outrageous” if Pope Francis failed to attend a special Vatican meeting on child protection.
Peter Saunders, who is one the members of the Holy See’s Clerical Abuse Commission, was speaking before it hosted a three-day event to review the Catholic Church’s safeguarding policies and the punishments in place for those who break the rules, or covered up for those who do.
Mr Saunders told The Times: “It will be outrageous if he doesn’t attend and I will say so.”
He also criticised the appointment of a Chilean bishop, Juan Barros, who is accused of covering up the abuse of a colleague – something Mr Barros denies.
Pope Francis has publicity backed the appointment of the bishop.
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