VATICAN CITY, Holy See — The most influential member of a Vatican fee on tackling clerical intercourse abuse stated Wednesday he has give up over “structural and practical issues” which made it “impossible” for him to proceed.
Hans Zollner, the general public face of Pope Francis’s efforts to deal with the worldwide pedophilia scandal, stated he had “grown increasingly concerned” over how the papal advisory physique works, “particularly in the areas of responsibility, compliance, accountability and transparency.”
His resignation from the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors is the newest blow to a working group dogged by controversy.
US Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the physique’s head, stated early Wednesday that Zollner had resigned as a result of a heavy workload.
But German Jesuit priest and famend tutorial Zollner, one of many main specialists within the struggle towards little one abuse within the Catholic Church, stated he had “noticed issues that need to be urgently addressed and which have made it impossible for me to continue further.”
In a press release, he slammed “a lack of clarity” relating to the choice means of members and workers, and “inadequate” monetary accountability.
“Furthermore, there should be transparency on how decisions are taken in the commission. Too often, there was insufficient information and vague communication”, he stated in a press release.
“It is due to these structural and practical issues that led me to disassociate myself from the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.”
‘Making him pay’
Zollner was the final remaining founding member of the group, which was arrange by Pope Francis in 2014 as he strove to rid the Catholic Church of the scourge of intercourse abuse by clerics.
Problems emerged as early as 2017, when abuse survivor Marie Collins resigned as a member of the fee, saying the physique was under-resourced and confronted fierce resistance inside excessive echelons of the church.
Fellow fee member and survivor Peter Saunders additionally give up later that 12 months.
The pope accepted Zollner’s request to step down “with the deepest of thanks for his many years of service,” O’Malley stated.
Francis has vowed a zero-tolerance stance on abuse and has modified the legislation in order that suspected circumstances have to be reported, however victims’ associations say he nonetheless has not gone far sufficient.
Francesco Zanardi, founding father of Italian survivors group Rete L’Abuso (The Abuse Network), instructed AFP Wednesday that Zollner had been “very honest” in regards to the pedophile priest downside inside the church “and the Vatican is making him pay.”
Zollner had been more and more sidelined over the previous couple of years, Zanardi stated.
The pope has not too long ago tried to strengthen the fee, which was initially restricted in its mandate, by making it a part of the Vatican workplace that processes clergy intercourse abuse circumstances.
He has additionally tasked it with serving to native church buildings arrange survivor centres, the place those that have been abused can search assist and justice.
But Zanardi stated that whereas Zollner had been a uncommon contradictory voice, the fee itself was “absolutely useless.” — AFP
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
