Vatican
City, 16 January 2014
(VIS) – Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, C.S., Permanent Observer of the
Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva, spoke this morning before
the Committee on the Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC). He
presented the Holy See's periodic report on this issue.
“The
protection of children remains a major concern for contemporary
society and for the Holy See,” the prelate said. “... Abusers are
found among members of the world’s most respected professions, most
regrettably, including members of the clergy and other church
personnel. …”
“Confronted
with this reality, the Holy See has carefully delineated policies and
procedures designed to help eliminate such abuse and to collaborate
with respective State authorities to fight against this crime. The
Holy See is also committed to listen carefully to victims of abuse
and to address the impact such situations have on survivors of abuse
and on their families. The vast majority of church personnel and
institutions on the local level have provided, and continue to
provide, a wide variety of services to children by educating them,
and by supporting their families, and by responding to their
physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Egregious crimes of abuse
committed against children have rightly been adjudicated and punished
by the competent civil authorities in the respective countries.”
“Therefore,
the response of the Holy See to the sad phenomenon of the sexual
abuse of minors has been articulated in different ambits. On the
level of the Holy See, as the Sovereign of Vatican City State, the
response to sexual abuse has been in accord with its direct
responsibility over the territory of Vatican City State. In this
regard, special legislation has been enacted to implement
international legal obligations, and covers the State, and its tiny
population.”
“On
the international level, the Holy See has taken concrete action by
the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in
1990. In 2000, the Holy See acceded to the Optional Protocol on the
Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography, as well
as the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed
Conflict. The Holy See then promotes and encourages these
international instruments.”
“At
the same time, the Holy See as the central organ of the Catholic
Church has formulated guidelines to facilitate the work of the local
Churches to develop effective measures within their jurisdiction and
in conformity with canonical legislation.”
“Local
Churches, taking into account the domestic law in their respective
countries, have developed guidelines and monitored their
implementation with the aim of preventing any additional abuse and
dealing promptly with it, in accordance with national law whenever it
occurs. … The result of the combined action taken by local Churches
and by the Holy See presents a framework that, when properly applied,
will help eliminate the occurrence of child sexual abuse by clergy
and other church personnel.”
The
Permanent Observer explained that “the Holy See’s 'Periodic
Report on the CRC' is divided into four Parts: Part I deals with
general considerations, including the nature of the Holy See as a
subject of international law. Part II responds to the concluding
observations of the Committee to the Holy See’s Initial Report,
and, in particular, questions concerning reservations; the
Committee’s four principles and the duties and rights of parents,
the education of girls, education about health, and education on the
CRC. The Holy See also discusses the principles it promotes
concerning the rights and duties of the child within the context of
the family. Part III presents the international contributions of the
Holy See in advancing and promoting basic principles recognized in
the CRC on a full range of issues pertaining to children (e.g., the
family, adoption, children with disabilities; health and welfare;
leisure and culture; and special measures to protect children,
including questions pertaining to sexual abuse, drug addiction,
children living on the streets and minority groups). Finally, Part IV
addresses the implementation of the Convention in Vatican City
State.”
“In
the end, there is no excuse,” the prelate repeated, “for any form
of violence or exploitation of children. Such crimes can never be
justified, whether committed in the home, in schools, in community
and sports programs, or in religious organizations and structures.
This is the long-standing policy of the Holy See. … For this
reason, the Holy See, and local Church structures in all parts of the
world, are committed to holding inviolable the dignity and entire
person of every child—body,
mind, and spirit.”
“Pope
Benedict XVI,” the prelate concluded, “speaking to the Bishops of
Ireland in 2006 had these important words to say: 'In the exercise of
your pastoral ministry, you have had to respond in recent years to
many heart-rending cases of sexual abuse of minors. These are all the
more tragic when the abuser is a cleric.' … Likewise, Pope Francis
clearly … undertook new action and has announced the creation of a
Commission for the Protection of Minors, with the aim of proposing
new initiatives for the development of safe environment programs for
children and improving efforts for the pastoral care for victims of
abuse around the world.”
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