Cardinal O'Malley Chair of Pontifical Commission Agrees with Marie Collins Concerns, Now Time to End Vatican Stonewalling

Bridget Mary's Response: Kudos to Marie Collins, a courageous Irish woman and last clerical abuse survivor on the Papal Commission, for resigning and challenging Vatican stonewalling on protecting clergy sexual abuse victims. Perhaps, now with Cardinal O'Malley's agreement, Pope Francis will move ahead with genuine reform to protect youth.The long range plan needs to incorporate an accountable, non-clerical, renewed priestly ministry- and this, of course, includes women as equals in every area of church life, including ordination. 

Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP, www.arcwp.org

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/03/02/cardinal-malley-says-voices-clergy-sexual-abuse-survivors-are-critical/9gs3GnMU1m1rp5z4mMDqiI/story.html

By Lisa Wangsness GLOBE STAFF  MARCH 03, 2017

"Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley vowed Thursday to make sure clergy sexual abuse victims have a voice on a Vatican panel addressing the crisis that rocked the Catholic Church, and he expressed frustration with resistance to change in some corners of the church.

His promise came a day after the lone clergy sexual abuse survivor serving on that papal commission resigned in exasperation with what she described as “shameful” Vatican foot-dragging.

“The voice of survivors is very important I think, and we have to consider what is the best way to ensure that” they’re included, said O’Malley, the Roman Catholic archbishop of Boston, in an unusually expansive telephone interview.

O’Malley said he shared some of the concerns about Vatican stonewalling expressed by Marie Collins, a clergy abuse survivor from Ireland who on Ash Wednesday resigned in frustration from the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, drawing global attention. O’Malley is chairman of the commission."