Pope Francis Sets Up Committee to Fight Catholic Child Abuse

I think this is a step in the right direction, for the sake of the children. Maybe they are just doing it for PR, lets just hope the children abused can get justice and closure.

It's about time something was done but i doubt their motivations.

www.bbc.co.uk...

Pope Francis is to set up a Vatican committee to fight sexual abuse of children in the Catholic Church and offer help to victims. The announcement, by the archbishop of Boston, follows a meeting between the Pope and his eight cardinal advisers. It comes days after the Vatican refused a UN request for information on alleged abuse by priests, nuns or monks.

Chances are they could just be doing it to get out of an external investigation. I just don't trust them and don't think I ever will. Pope Francis seems different to me but it is still the same old corrupt religion.

What does ATS think?

reply to post by Tsu322


He`s showing he has the will to do important and needed changes in the church. Just hope he chose the right people to help him with this as he can`t do it alone.

reply to post by Tsu322


I don't know, but I like this new pope a lot.

I say let's give him a chance to enact some much needed changes. The Catholic church is a huge institution that has resisted change for centuries.

I think it's only fair we give him a little time to start to get things done. Even though he's the pope it can't be easy. Inertia is a terrible thing.

But I have a sense the world may be in for a few very pleasant surprises with this guy...

Great news about the Pope's old job. Now maybe he could try bouncing the pedophiles out of the Church and not just to another parish.

I'm not sure guys, I hope you are right.

I have a niggly little critic in me that says they want to do the investigation themselves so that they can control the flow of information to the outside world.

I think the investigation would hold a lot more weight if it was backed up by a separate investigation from outside sources. I think they should be made to hand over all of the information they have so far and any that comes to them during their own inquiries. I'm not saying it to be awkward but I just don't trust them to do it for themselves.

This has been added to the BBC article since I last posted;

Pope Francis has said dealing with sex abuse is vital for the Church's credibility. Cardinal Sean O'Malley, the archbishop of Boston, said the committee could provide codes of conduct for clergymen, guidelines for Church officials and better checks for would-be priests. Boston was the centre of a child sexual abuse scandal involving Catholic priests in the US in 2002. The archbishop said the new committee was suggested by the council of cardinals, which was convened to discuss reforms to the Catholic Church, according to AFP news agency. Pope Francis approved it on Thursday.

reply to post by Tsu322


One of the problems the Catholic Church has, has been battling its own policy of making men live celebate lives which is against the nature of man. Perhaps, instead of setting up committees, whatever their genuine reasons are, they should perhaps look at the impossible task they set their priests. Its long been a haven for homosexuals who don't have the same pressures, but until the impossible for many heterosexual men is not required they can have as many committees as they like, they are not helping themselves regarding some of the sexual problems Catholicism has for its priests. The rest obviously need police prosecution and not protection. These men would go after children whether wearing a frock or not.

Somehow Pope Francis reminds me of Ephesians 5:11

I don't now why, but he and this piece of text somehow seem to match very well together.

"Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them."

It seems to fit to this guy, that is why I think he will be exposing stuff way beyond our wildest imagination. We will see headlines in the news of which we never thought we would read them, although we knew about it for many, many, many years...

reply to post by roundpyramid


I would like to see that happen. It would be a real turning point. But what about the rest of the higher ups, they are the same people that were covering things up a few years ago. I think there needs to be a complete re-staffing of the Vatican, just to be on the safe side.

reply to post by Shiloh7


I agree they would be the men to go after children no matter where they work. They should be locked up for life (meaning life) and not with each other either but in the general population prisons. Then they too will know vulnerability and attacks at any time. The rest of my opinions on appropriate punishments are against T&C's.

I would allow the innocent priests to marry if they wanted to, I mean, they say they have an age of consent at the Vatican for marriage anyway.

This has happened time and time again. The rhetoric from the last Pope was the same and no real changes were made. It is the same crap being trotted out again and again to keep the faithful happy.

He has had long enough to make real changes if he was going to. He has not.

P

This is a good start to repair the damage done by usurpers and uncover demons that have taken root in this religious faction.
This Pope has much work that needs to be done to take back what was taken away and made many people turn their backs on the church!
No one has turned their back on God, only the evil deeds done by men in this institution. And its good to see this Pope doing something about it!!

I have many trust issues with the Vatican, but this is really a good start. And the new Pope IMO is doing a good job to cull the extreme natures that many of these followers have had beaten into them over the years. If this new Pope can keep up the good work. This religion just may bounce back from its dark past, and foul deeds. Granted its going to take a lot of work on their part, and the proof is in the actions.

So without going on and on about my personal feelings on the church, I am just happy to know they have a good guy in there it seems. And just in time too! As how long can a group of people cover up hurting so many children! Most agenda driven folks are always pushing the, "for the kids!" Type speech. This time here, it really is for the kids sake, and its taken them this long!
Better late then never I suppose!