A British abuse survivor is disputing his
removal from a Vatican child protection commission and is seeking a
meeting with Pope Francis about the matter.
Today the Holy See announced that Peter
Saunders was no longer a member of a pontifical safeguarding body and
was taking a “leave of absence” to consider his position.
Mr Saunders had been appointed to serve
on a commission set up by Pope Francis tasked with improving the
Church’s handling of abuse across the world.
He has been critical of the slow pace of
reform by the Church in relation to abuse and just before the commission
began its latest round of meetings called for the Pope to attend the
gathering adding that it would be “outrageous” if he failed to do so.
Hours after the Vatican released a
statement saying he had left the safeguarding body, Mr Saunders told
reporters in Rome that he has not left his position and would only talk
to the Pope about his ongoing participation in the group.
According to the National Catholic
Reporter, Mr Saunders said: "I did not make a decision to take or accept
any decision on a leave of absence” and added: "my understanding is
that I was appointed by Pope Francis and therefore I can only be removed
by Pope Francis.”
He has asked Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the
President of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, to
organise for a meeting between Mr Saunders and the Pope.
The campaigner, who was the founder of
the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC), said
that 15 members of the 17 commission voted in favour of a no-confidence
motion in him (one abstained and another did not take part.)
He added that some commission members had expressed concerns around him speaking to the press.
Mr Saunders had been involved in a high profile media showdown with Vatican finance chief, Cardinal
George Pell, who the former NAPAC Chief Executive accused of covering
up abuse when in Australia - a charge the cardinal strongly denies.
Mr Saunders has also spoken out against
the Pope’s decision to appoint Bishop Juan Barros to the Diocese of
Osorno in Chile as Bishop Barros has been accused of an abuse cover-up,
even witnessing abuse.
The pontifical commission members include
Baroness (Sheila) Hollins, Marie Collins, an Irish abuse survivor and
Bill Kilgallon, former Chairman of the National Catholic Safeguarding
Commission of England and Wales. Alongside Mr Saunders, Ms Collins is
the only other abuse survivor on the commission.
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