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Shocking breakdown in Vatican child protection work. Leading expert resigns.

 Father Zollner sharply criticizes Vatican after resignation

"Impossible to continue working"

The Jesuit and child protection expert Hans Zollner surprisingly announced on Wednesday that he was withdrawing from the Papal Commission for Child Protection, sharply criticising the co-operation between the Commission and the Vatican.

Zollner made a statement on Wednesday afternoon in a written statement available to DOMRADIO.DE. Among other things, he criticices the lack of transparency in both personnel decisions and financial issues. Another problem is the lack of communication with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which has been responsible for the Commission for Child Protection since last year.



The statement reads (in excerpts) verbatim:

"The focus of the Catholic Church must be the protection of children and those in need of protection. Since the commission was set up in 2014, I have shared this hope with others. However, in my work with the Commission I have encountered problems that make it impossible for me to act in this way work to continue and urgently need to be addressed.

In recent years I have become more and more concerned about the workings of the Commission. This applies in particular to the areas of responsibility, implementation, accountability and transparency. I am convinced that every church must adhere to these principles, especially a papal commission.

There is a lack of clarity in the selection process for Commissioners, including their roles and responsibilities.

Another problem is the question of financial accountability, which I think is insufficient. It is of the utmost importance that the Commission is clear about how it is using its money.

Furthermore, it should be made transparent how decisions are made in the Commission. Too often information has been inadequately or vaguely communicated to members.

Since the Commission was placed under the responsibility of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith last June, I am not aware of any guidelines that would govern the relationship between the Commission and the Congregation."

Zollner surprisingly resigns

The Jesuit is stepping down as a member of the Papal Commission for Child Protection, as the Commission's president, Cardinal Sean O'Malley said on Wednesday. Zollner had asked Pope Francis to withdraw from this post because he had taken on a new role as an adviser to the Diocese of Rome and was already taking on many other commitments.

Francis agreed to his brother's request and thanked him deeply for his years of service. Zollner has been a member of the body since the Papal Commission for Child Protection was founded in 2014. President O'Malley recognized the Jesuit's work in helping implement many of the Commission's projects and programs.

Advisor to bishops around the world

He has trained bishops and religious leaders from around the world, becoming an ambassador for child protection. Zollner will continue to be active with his work in this area. The theologian and licensed psychotherapist is internationally recognized as an expert in the prevention of sexual abuse of minors in the Catholic Church.

He directs the "Institute of Anthropology - Interdisciplinary Studies in Human Dignity and Care for Vulnerable Persons" (IADC) at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He also advises bishops and priest trainers from all parts of the world in matters of abuse prevention. Since the beginning of March, the expert has also been working as an expert for the Diocesan Child Protection Department in the Diocese of Rome.

Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Children

The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, colloquially known as the Pontifical or Vatican Commission for the Protection of Children, was set up by Pope Francis in 2014 to protect children and young people from sexual abuse and physical abuse and has been active since 2015.

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