杏MAP导航

By Thaddeus Jones

The  just concluded its Seventh Ordinary Plenary Assembly, culminating in an audience with 杏MAP导航 Francis on Friday morning. Following that meeting with 杏MAP导航 Francis, the Commission's president and Archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Seán Patrick O鈥橫alley, O.F.M. Cap., met with journalists to recount the recent days' events. 

Together with him was Fr. Andrew Small, O.M.I., Secretary of the Commission. Also present were Members Nelson Giovanelli Rosendo dos Santos of Brazil, an expert in the rehabilitation of youth from drug addiction and abuse; and Juan Carlos Cruz of Chile, a communications executive and global advocate for survivors of clerical abuse, both who recently visited Ukraine to assist in dealing with the crisis of unaccompanied children fleeing Ukraine and assuring their protection. Both spoke about that experience and their work on the Commission and great hopes for its future work given its new role.

Child protection priority

Cardinal O鈥橫alley explained how the new Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium shows how 杏MAP导航 Francis has placed the importance of child protection at the core of the Church鈥檚 central government. In this way also 杏MAP导航 Francis 鈥渉as given the Commission a very clear mandate to animate the entire Church from within the Roman Curia on the subject of child protection.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis formally has instituted the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors as part of the Roman Curia, within the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. In speaking to the leadership, staff and members of the Commission, the 杏MAP导航 made it clear that the autonomy of the Commission remains, but that it was also necessary to anchor it to an appropriate Vatican office since it could not remain a type of satellite entity.

A mandate with autonomy

Cardinal O鈥橫alley noted that this autonomy is also meant to ensure the integrity of the Commission鈥檚 expertise and the full freedom to give advice to the 杏MAP导航 on these delicate matters. The Cardinal also recalled how the 杏MAP导航 emphasized how abuse survivors must receive 鈥渁 welcome and an open door when they appeal to the local church in their country.鈥� And this needs to be a priority throughout the Church. He said the Commission will be working to do so by encouraging local churches to establish survivor support services at the national level, as called for in the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 .

Cardinal O鈥橫alley also mentioned how 杏MAP导航 Francis wants the Commission to take on the responsibility 鈥渢o supervise, promote, encourage and report back to him on the progress that is made in fulfilling the mandates in Vos Estis.

Fr. Andrew Small, O.M.I., highlighted three important outcomes and mandates for the Commission鈥檚 work.

Reports directly to the 杏MAP导航

First, he underscored the autonomy of the Commission鈥檚 work, although it will come under the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. The President of the Commission is appointed by the 杏MAP导航 and reports directly to him, without filters. At the same time, the Vatican department deals with matters pertaining to doctrine, morals and justice, and so became the logical choice to place the Commission, especially as it has a proactive vision of child dignity and protection of vulnerable persons.

Annual report

Second, Fr. Small explained how 杏MAP导航 Francis has asked the Commission to present an annual report on the status of safeguarding children, looking at policies and procedures and how guidelines are being implemented. The primary competency of the Commission is to offer these guidelines and monitor implementation throughout Church entities (dioceses, bishops conferences, religious orders鈥�), not to deal with individual cases. Fr. Small noted how 杏MAP导航 Francis gave them a mandate to supervise this process, to encourage and animate, and to highlight this work in their annual report. It鈥檚 about transparency and accountability.

Church welcome centres

Finally, Fr. Small spoke about the Commission鈥檚 mandate now to implementing that called for in Vos Estis Lux Mundi, in particular the creation of local church centres where abuse survivors can be welcomed, heard and helped. 杏MAP导航 Francis emphasized this aspect in his address to them, so individuals who have experienced abuse, and their family members, can find acceptance and an attentive hearing, and be accompanied in a process of healing and justice.