Statutes released for Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors
May 08, 2015
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The Vatican has released the statues of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, which were approved by Pope Francis in April.
In a chirograph that was released along with the statutes, Pope Francis said that the goal of the new commission is “to to promote the protection of the dignity of minors and vulnerable adults, using the forms and methods, consonant with the nature of the Church, which they consider most appropriate.” “Many painful actions have caused a profound examination of conscience for the entire Church, leading us to request forgiveness from the victims and from our society for the harm that has been caused,” the Pope writes. He established the Commission for the Protection of Minors, chaired by Cardinal Sean O’Malley, to address the problem.
The statutes of the commission—which have been approved ad experimentum for a three-year period—stress the importance of protecting minors. The commission is given a broad mandate to produce norms to guide the policies of dioceses and religious orders.
The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, the statutes stipulate, is to be composed of no more than eighteen members, appointed by the Pope for three-year terms. The commission is to meet twice each year, and members are bound by professional secrecy regarding the information they receive in their duties.
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Further information:
- Statutes of the Commission for the Protection of Minors approved (VIS)
- Publication of the Chirograph by which Pope Francis instituted the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (VIS)
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