VATICAN CITY
National Catholic Reporter
May 18, 2018
by Joshua J. McElwee
Jan. 15-18
Jan. 20
Boston’s Cardinal Sean O’Malley, a member of the Council of Cardinals and the head of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, releases a statement acknowledging that Francis’ defense of Barros was “a source of great pain” for abuse survivors.
The cardinal says expressions of doubt about survivors’ testimony “abandon those who have suffered reprehensible criminal violations of their human dignity.”
Jan. 22
In a press conference on the way home to Rome from Chile, the pope again calls the charges against Barros “calumny.” He repeatedly insists there is no evidence tying Barros to Karadima, despite public testimony of at least three abuse survivors.
Jan. 30
The Vatican announces that Francis has asked Maltese Archbishop Charles Scicluna, considered one of the church’s foremost experts on the abuse crisis, to go to Chile and take survivors’ testimony.
Feb. 17
Before heading to Chile, Scicluna meets Chilean abuse survivor Juan Carlos Cruz in New York. Cruz praises Scicluna’s demeanor and says he acted with “openness and transparency.”
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