O’Malley Named To Vatican Anti-Abuse Commission

CBS Boston
March 23, 2014

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2014/03/23/omalley-named-to-vatican-anti-abuse-commission/

BOSTON (CBS) — Cardinal Sean O’Malley will join seven others on a new Vatican anti-abuse commission.

O’Malley is the only American named to the Pope Francis’ “G8″ council of advisors.

On Sunday, members of SNAP: survivors network of those abused by priests held a protest against the new commission. The group blasted the panel calling it a public relations stunt.

SNAP is instead, calling for less “study” and more action.

“Every single bishop should post names of child molesting clerics,” victims say.

Other members include an abuse victim from Ireland, Marie Collins; mental health expert Prof. the Baroness Sheila Hollins of the United Kingdom; civil lawyer Prof. Claudio Paple of Italy; constitutional law specialist her Excellency Hanna Suchocka of Poland; professor of moral theology Rev. Humberto Miguel Yañez, SJ, of Argentina and psychologist Rev. Hans Zollner, SJ, of Germany.

O’Malley will continue running the Archdiocese of Boston while serving on the commission part-time.

“Pope Francis has made clear that the Church must hold the protection of minors amongst Her highest priorities,” the Vatican said in a statement.

The chief duty of the commission will be to create statutes to define the commission’s future work and potential members.

“Certain that the Church has a critical role to play in this field, and looking to the future without forgetting the past, the Commission will take a multi-pronged approach to promoting youth protection, including: education regarding the exploitation of children; discipline of offenders; civil and canonical duties and responsibilities; and the development of best practices as they have emerged in society at large,” the Vatican said.