Commission welcomes Pope's new call for zero tolerance of abuse

Aug 22nd, 2018 (Updated Jun 16th, 2019)

Professor Wijlens

The Vatican Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors issues a statement on Tuesday, saying they are encouraged by Pope Francis' letter to all the People of God regarding clerical abuse.

The Commission begins by saying it is encouraged by Pope Francis' letter and thanked him for "his strong words recognising the pain and suffering endured by people who have suffered sexual abuse, the abuse of power and the abuse of conscience perpetrated by some members of the church".

In addition, they state that "members of the Commission feel supported by the Holy Father's call…to 'implement zero tolerance' " and to make accountable " 'those who perpetrate or cover up' " crime. The PCPM said that they heard reinforced in Pope Francis' letter their own message that "zero tolerance and accountability are a pre-requisite in safeguarding vulnerable people from abuse".

Commission member and canon lawyer Professor Myriam Wijlens summarized Pope Francis' letter into three points. The first is the clearly expressed "connection between sexual abuse, abuse of power and abuse of conscience" which, Prof Wijlens says, "many do not want to see connected". Second, is that the abuse of power has two levels: "There are those who use their position to sexually abuse minors and vulnerable adults and…those in leadership positions" who cover the abuse up.

The third point Prof Wijlens write of is that a looking backward approach consisting of "asking for pardon and seeking repair" is not sufficient. The approach that looks forward "implies asking for a radical change of culture where the safety of children enjoys top priority". She says that the Church's reputation requires "putting the safety of children first", a task requiring "radical change" which "the clergy alone will not be able to bring about". Thus the need for "humility" and of asking for and receiving "help from the whole community", Prof.Wijlens concludes.

Read the full statement here:

The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors [PCPM] is encouraged by the Letter to the Holy People of God issued Monday by Pope Francis.

The Commission thanks the Holy Father for his strong words recognizing the pain and suffering endured by people who have suffered sexual abuse, the abuse of power and the abuse of conscience perpetrated by some members of the church.

We are forever indebted to the prophetic courage and endurance of many men and women whose "outcry was more powerful than all the measures meant to silence it".

Zero tolerance and accountability are pre-requisite in safeguarding

The members of the Commission feel supported by the Holy Father's call to church leadership to "implement zero tolerance and ways of making all those who perpetrate or cover up these crimes accountable".

Pope Francis' letter reinforces the PCPM message that zero tolerance and accountability are a pre-requisite in safeguarding vulnerable people from abuse, now and in the future.

Commission member Professor Myriam Wijlens states:

"For me a canon lawyer who has been engaged in many abuse cases three aspects stand out: first, Pope Francis clearly expresses a connection between sexual abuse, abuse of power and abuse of conscience. He verbalizes what many do not want to see connected.

Secondly, he mentions two levels of abuse of power: there are those who use their position to sexually abuse minors and vulnerable adults and there are those in leadership positions who abuse their power to cover this up.

Thirdly, the response of asking for pardon and seeking repair will never be sufficient also because it only looks backwards. A forward looking response implies asking for a radical change of culture where the safety of children enjoys top priority. Protecting the reputation of the church stipulates putting the safety of children first. The clergy alone will not be able to bring about such a radical change, thus Pope Francis writes: in humility they will have to ask for and receive help from the whole community".

For more information on the PCPM and its work in promoting a safeguarding culture in local churches around the world visit: www.protectionofminors.va