Vatican's Zollner says decline in reports of sexual abuse where safeguards introduced

Record ID: 1358116

  • Title: Vatican's Zollner says decline in reports of sexual abuse where safeguards introduced
  • Date: 27th September 2018
  • Summary: ROME, ITALY (SEPTEMBER 27, 2018) (REUTERS) FATHER HANS ZOLLNER, MEMBER OF VATICAN COMMISSION FOR THE PROTECTION OF MINORS, STANDING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS MEDIA ZOLLNER AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) FATHER HANS ZOLLNER, MEMBER OF VATICAN COMMISSION FOR THE PROTECTION OF MINORS, SAYING: "The best practices do work, have an effect. But there is a cost to it. The cost is you do it rigorously, you do it relentlessly and you do it with all consequences." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) FATHER HANS ZOLLNER, MEMBER OF VATICAN COMMISSION FOR THE PROTECTION OF MINORS, SAYING: "The Grand Jury report, if you read it, from the 302 priests from the six dioceses in Pennsylvania, 299 refer to the period before 2002. Three to the period after 2002. So it shows that where there is commitment to safeguarding it works." MEDIA NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 11th October 2018 13:17
  • Keywords: Father Hans Zoller Pennyslvania sexual abuse United States
  • Location: ROME, ITALY
  • City: ROME, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA0018ZEKQBR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Father Hans Zollner, a member of the Vatican Commission for the Protection of Minors said on Thursday (September 27) statistics taken in the United States since 2002 show a decline in numbers of sexual abuse claims against the Catholic Church.
    Zollner speaking to media in Rome, said many of the abuse issues coming into the public eye in the present day are historic cases that occurred often more than thirty years ago. He said the new strict guideline and safeguard policies being put into use by the church to stop abuse appear to be working.
    "The best practices do work, have an effect. But there is a cost to it. The cost is you do it rigorously, you do it relentlessly and you do it with all consequences," Zollner said.
    New rules have been put into place for preventing and reporting sexual abuse in the United States following the first big media expose of abuse in Boston in 2002.
    Commenting on a Grand Jury report in the United States on the sexual abuse of minors, Zollner said:
    "The Grand Jury report, if you read it, from the 302 priests from the six dioceses in Pennsylvania, 299 refer to the period before 2002. Three to the period after 2002. So it shows that where there is commitment to safeguarding it works."
    The Church is grappling with a wave of new cases in countries including Chile, Germany and the United States.
    Francis has come under fire from victims' groups and other members of the Church who say he has not done enough to make bishops accountable for mishandling or covering up abuse cases.
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