CNA\/Europa Press<\/a>).- A German priest and psychologist recently appointed to the new Vatican commission for the protection of minors has stated that the initiative demonstrates Pope Francis\u2019 concern regarding the immediacy of the issue.<\/p>\n\t\u201cI believe that people realize that this is an issue that Pope Francis has put on his agenda and with a priority\u201d Fr. Hans Zollner, S.J., told CNA in a March 25 interview.<\/p>\n
\tFr. Zollner is psychologist and professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, and was recently named one of the initial eight members of the new Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.<\/p>\n
\tAccording to Fr. Zollner, \u201cthe Commission is\u2026an initial group of eight people who are named to find out who else could be members of a larger commission, including other members from other continents and countries.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tDrawing attention to the name of the commission, the priest noted that its current eight members \u201ccome from eight countries\u201d and \u201cfrom different fields.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tHeaded by Cardinal Sean O\u2019Malley of Boston, Mass., the commission is composed of four women and four men including the cardinal and himself, the priest noted, emphasizing that one of the female members from Ireland is herself a \u201cvictim of sexual abuse by a priest.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tEmphasizing the commission\u2019s need for credibility, Fr. Zoller explained that the reaction of people to the commission appointees \u201chas been for the last few days very positive around the globe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\u201cWhat people realize is that we can\u2019t talk about sexual abuse committed by priests and other members of the Church without listening to the victims,\u201d he emphasized, adding that \u201cit\u2019s a clear statement that the Church is committed to unwavering interest and policy to listen to victims, to put the victims first.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tNoting that the commission also reveals the Church\u2019s \u201cglobal approach\u201d to the issue, the priest explained that the effort is \u201cnot only a commitment to one country or to one continent.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\u201cWe have to spread out what Europeans and Northern Americans have learnt in the last decades in terms of prevention work, in terms of setting up safe environments for children and youth in general. So I think there is a big opportunity here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tFr. Zoller voiced that the commission could also serve as \u201ca communication channel\u201d between the Holy See and local Churches, as well as \u201cfrom local churches to Rome,\u201d and between the local churches themselves.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cWe can see that within the Church much good has been done within the last decades,\u201d he observed, but \u201cwith much suffering and much pain on the side of the victims and with much effort on the side of the Church authorities and of people involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\u201cBut much good has come out of this in putting up protective environments for children and youth.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tFollowing the December announcement of the commission by the Council of Eight Cardinals selected by Pope Francis to assist him in matters of Church governance and reform, the pontiff revealed the names of eight persons who will serve as the committee\u2019s first members last week.<\/p>\n
\tAmong the members of the commission are Dr. Catherine Bonnet of France; Mrs. Marie Collins of Ireland; Professor and Baroness Sheila Hollins of the U.K.; Cardinal Sean Patrick O\u2019Malley O.F.M. Cap. of Boston; Professor Claudio Papale of Italy; Professor and former Prime Minister Hanna Suchocak of Poland, and Fr. Humberto Miguel Yanez, S.J. of Argentina.<\/p>\n
\t\u00a0<\/p>\n
\tAlan Holdren contributed to this piece.<\/em><\/p>\n\n
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