Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, CS, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to
the United Nations in Geneva, spoke on Thursday 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.”