Dioceses can no longer “quote the pontifical secret to avoid either cooperating or sharing with the authorities” Archbishop Charles Scicluna warns.
Fr John Gallagher alleges he was pushed out of his parish by Bishop Gerald Barbarito and the Diocese of Palm Beach because he refused to cover up for another priest’s sexually inappropriate behaviour with a child.
The secrecy surrounding the Church's accountability process for those failing to report child abuse increases the pereception that there is no process in place, says Irish clerical abuse survivor Marie Collins.
Marie Collins tells We Are Church gathering, “If there is no consistent agreement across the Church as to what is sexual abuse of a minor, then how can we have any hope of consistent handling of the issue?”
"We have the highest number of individuals registered of any World Meeting of Families with just over 30,000” WMOF2018 Secretary General, Fr Timothy Bartlett has highlighted.
Nine new members appointed to the Commission, and seven of the previous members reappointed including Jesuit, Fr Hans Zollner and Mgr Robert Oliver from Boston.
A photograph shows Marie Collins handing a letter written to the Pope by Juan Carlos Cruz, detailing Karadima's abuse and Barros' role, to Cardinal Sean O'Malley.
Final Report of Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse questions mandatory clerical celibacy, the inviolability of the seal of confession, and criticises culture of clericalism.
Mgr John Kennedy from Dublin is to oversee the disciplinary section of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith which processes clerical sex abuse cases.
“It appears that for you, the concern that the local bishop might feel disrespected far outweighs any concern about disrespecting the survivor.”
“I find it impossible to listen to public statements about the deep concern in the Church for the care of those whose lives have been blighted by abuse, yet to watch privately as a congregation in the Vatican refuses to even acknowledge their letters,” said Marie Collins.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols and We Are Church Ireland commend Pope on the vitality and freshness that he has sustained over the past three years.
“Any expectation that the Commission can attack or demand things of the Pope or insert themselves in particular cases ignores the mandate."
Cardinal O'Malley "listened carefully to all our concerns and will be bringing them to the Holy Father in the next week” - Marie Collins.
Over 5.2 million adults and children have gone through the safe environment programme in the US - Mgr Steve Rossetti.
Everything possible must be done to rid the Church of the scourge of the sexual abuse of minors.
Guidelines exempt bishops from reporting abuse cases to civil authorities.
Four women among three clergy and five laity from eight different countries on panel.
