Abuse against Minors: the Fight Goes on

By Andrea Tornielli
Vatican Insider
April 6, 2013

http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/the-vatican/detail/articolo/francesco-francis-francisco-23833/

Pope Francis

The line taken by the Church with regards to sex abuse has not changed. Those who thought Benedict XVI’s resignation and Mgr. Charles Scicluna’s transferral to Malta before this, was a sign the Holy See intended to close a chapter of its recent history, will be disappointed. Yesterday Pope Francis received the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Muller, in an audience, to discuss the various issues on the dicastery’s agenda.

The statement published in the late morning reads: “In particular, the Holy Father recommended that the Congregation, continuing along the lines set by Benedict XVI, act decisively with regard to cases of sexual abuse, first of all by promoting measures for the protection of minors, as well as in offering assistance to those who have suffered abuse, carrying out due proceedings against the guilty, and in the commitment of bishops' conferences to formulate and implement the necessary directives in this area that is so important for the Church's witness and credibility.”

The Church will not be taking any steps back or loosening up on this issue.Quite the opposite. Pope Francis wanted to emphasise that he intends to continue the work of his predecessor. Readers will recall that when Ratzinger was still a cardinal he played a key role when the breakthrough move was made in 2002 under John Paul II. That is, when the former Holy Office decided to deal with the abuse cases itself, taking the task out of the hands of the dioceses. He continued his protagonist role when he became Pope in 2005, introducing tighter rules and expressing his closeness to the victims. This line of action will not change under Pope Francis.

“The Holy Father”, the statement continues, “assured that victims of abuse are present in a particular way in his prayers for those who are suffering.” A sign he is continuing along Benedict XVI’s line. The fact that this was the only issue – out of all those in the audience agenda - mentioned in the statement, is important. It is likely that Muller also informed Francis about the sensitive dossier on the Society of St. Pius X and the process begun during the pontificate of Benedict XVI, in view of the traditionalist group’s return to full communion with Rome.