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Francis introduced the creation of the Pontifical Fee for the Safety of Minors in 2013 to advise the Vatican on finest practices to forestall clergy sexual abuse. He named Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley because the fee’s head.
The board has gone by a number of iterations since then, most importantly when one other founding member, Irish abuse survivor and advocate Marie Collins, resigned in frustration in 2017 over Vatican stonewalling on the fee’s proposals.
Zollner’s departure steered the same, however broader diploma of frustration that touched on inner governance points as effectively.
He pointed to a tough relationship with the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Religion, which since 2001 has processed all sex abuse cases across the globe. The previous Holy Workplace jealously guards its turf, and is thought for its centuries-long custom of secrecy and its unwavering crackdown on dissidents and heretics.
The workplace additionally was identified to be less-than-enthusiastic about proposals put ahead by the fee or requests for cooperation. Final yr, Francis nonetheless positioned the fee, which had existed as an advert hoc physique that reported on to the pope, contained in the Dicastery.
On the time, O’Malley mentioned the transfer would give the fee extra institutional weight within the Vatican. However Zollner complained that just about a yr later, there have been nonetheless no rules governing the connection between the 2 entities.
Zollner, a German Jesuit and psychologist, heads a tutorial institute on the Pontifical Gregorian College that trains church personnel in baby safety methods. The institute just lately beefed up its mandate and now awards tutorial levels in safeguarding.
Zollner was additionally just lately named as a guide to the Diocese of Rome to enhance its baby safety insurance policies.
In an announcement saying the resignation, O’Malley steered Zollner was leaving due to the brand new Rome appointment and “all his different tasks.” The cardinal didn’t point out the “structural and sensible” points Zollner cited.
O’Malley praised Zollner’s dedication to the reason for baby safety, noting his world journey to coach church personnel.
“He has turn out to be an envoy for safeguarding and can proceed to be a relentless presence on this necessary work,” O’Malley mentioned.
In his assertion, Zollner mentioned his resignation was accepted on March 14. There was no rationalization for the delay within the announcement.
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