Pope pledge falls short says victim

By Melissa Cunningham And Olivia Shying
Courier
June 6, 2016

http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/3951285/pope-pledge-falls-short-says-victim/?cs=62

CALLS FOR ACTION: Pope Francis has clarified legal procedures to remove bishops who covered up for paedophiles if the Vatican finds they were negligent.

Catholic bishops found guilty of negligence when dealing with cases of sexual abuse can now be removed from office, Pope Francis has announced.

The move will also apply to other senior Church officials and was unveiled in a papal decree on Sunday which said such cases would now fall under existing canon law allowing for prelates to be sacked for "serious reasons". The Pope previously pledged zero tolerance for anyone in the church who abuses children and likened such abuse to a "satanic mass".

Survivors have long demanded the Catholic Church do more to make bishops accountable for abuse in their dioceses. Ballarat survivor Andrew Collins remained sceptical about the Pope’s pledge. He feared it would not go far enough to eradicate the scourge of sexual abuse inside the Church.    

“It’s not only bishops that must be removed but any religious clergy that have abused or covered it up,” Mr Collins said. "For a victim of child sexual abuse, there is nothing more frustrating than offending clergy getting convicted for raping children but then being able to remain a priest or a Christian brother.”

Francis Sullivan, chief executive of the church’s Truth Justice and Healing Council said he was awaiting further detail.  

“From what we understand it’s a move in the right direction,” he said. “What will be needed to give confidence back to the community and the entire world is the Church taking action to show it has a zero tolerance for sexual abuse.”

Removal decisions will be approved by the Pope and assisted by legal advisors. It will take effect from September 5.

Meanwhile, a woman who rode from Melbourne to Ballarat to raise awareness for child abuse has condemned Nazareth House for removing ribbons she tied to the fence weeks ago. Kath Maudsley tied ribbons to the fence to "end the silence". She said the decision showed "a total lack of empathy for survivors". Nazareth House regional Superior Sister Dominica Cooper said the removal was done out of respect to the residents who called Nazareth House home.