KANSAS CITY (MO)
National Catholic Reporter
August 31, 2018
By Marie Collins
Along with seven other survivors I met with Pope Francis Aug. 25, at which time I asked him why the central Vatican Accountability Tribunal announced in 2015 was not being implemented.
In reply to me, he spoke of his belief that for cultural reasons such a tribunal was “not viable.” He referenced his 2016 moto proprio “As A Loving Mother” at this time and later in his press conference Aug 26 on the plane home to Rome, rather than the tribunal.
On the plane he expressed the belief that I was a “bit fixated” and did not “understand” the process being used now. I have no problem in admitting to being determined to see those who protect perpetrators held accountable (though “fixated” is not how I would describe myself!)
The priest who abused me was exposed as a perpetrator to his bishop soon afterwards, but the bishop did nothing, and the priest went on to sexually assault little girls in his parishes for the next 30 years — hence my determination that perpetrators not be protected.
I do understand the alternative option Francis has chosen over a centralized one. The statement in regard to my lack of understanding is reminiscent to me of Cardinal Gerhard Müller, who after my resignation from the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in 2017 also said I did not “understand.” I did in that case too.
Francis clearly now favors separate or local courts to hold bishops accountable, but I wonder: What has changed his mind since 2015? At that time a central Vatican Accountability Tribunal was recommended to him by his Commission for the Protection of Minors. This recommendation for a central tribunal was approved by every member of the Commission, experts he had chosen from differing cultural backgrounds to advise him.
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