Pope tells bishops to assist in abuse inquiries

Pope Francis has ordered Catholic bishops to co-operate as a matter of priority with a commission he set up to protect children from sexual abuse by clerics, even if it unearths new scandals.

The Pope, who met victims of abuse last year, sent the letter to the bishops and heads of religious institutions before the commission held its first full meeting yesterday.

“Everything possible must be done to rid the Church of the scourge of the sexual abuse of minors and to open pathways of reconciliation and healing for those who were abused,” the Pope says in the letter.

“Families need to know that the Church is making every effort to protect their children... Priority must not be given to any other kind of concern, whatever its nature, such as the desire to avoid scandal, since there is absolutely no place in ministry for those who abuse minors.”

One of the members of the commission, Irishwoman Marie Collins, herself a victim of sexual abuse, said commission members had asked the Pope for a letter to thwart any resistance from bishops, which she said some members expected.

“Bishops’ conferences have various views on abuse, as we know,” she said. “In Ireland, there was a great deal of resistance to change, to putting in all the correct, necessary prevention measures and treating survivors in the right way.

“You must pre-empt that. If the commission wants cooperation... then I think a letter from the Holy Father indicating that they [the bishops] should co-operate certainly lends the backing necessary to our work.”

Part of the task of the commission, which is made up of 17 clerics and lay people from around the world, is to help dioceses put in place “best practices” to prevent abuse and work with victims in a process of healing.

Eight members are women and two were sexually abused by clergy. The other victim is Peter Saunders of Britain.

The worldwide scandal has seen abusers shunted from parish to parish instead of being defrocked and handed over to authorities.

In a number of developed countries, particularly in the US, the Catholic Church has paid tens of millions of dollars in settlements. It has put in place measures in recent years to protect children, but victims’ groups say it must do more, and make bishops who allegedly covered up the abuse accountable.

The Pope also used the letter to remind bishops that the safety of minors and vulnerable adults in their dioceses is their responsibility.

They had to ensure Vatican instructions on how to handle sexual abuse cases were implemented, and procedures put in place to ensure future compliance.

“Pastors and those in charge of religious communities should be available to meet with victims and their loved ones: such meetings are valuable opportunities for listening to those who have greatly suffered and for asking their forgiveness,” the Pope wrote.