This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/12/british-child-sexual-abuse-survivor-to-press-pope-over-case-of-chilean-bishop

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
British child sexual abuse survivor to press pope over case of Chilean bishop British child sexual abuse survivor to press pope over case of Chilean bishop
(about 2 hours later)
Child sex abuse survivors who were hand-picked by Pope Francis to advise the Catholic Church on how to address the issue are meeting with a top church official in Rome on Sunday to protest the Vatican’s handling of a controversial case in Chile. Child sex abuse survivors who were handpicked by Pope Francis to advise the Catholic church on how to address the issue are meeting with a senior church official in Rome on Sunday to criticise the Vatican’s handling of a case in Chile.
Peter Saunders, a Briton abused by two priests as a teenager, told the Guardian that he would demand action in an emergency meeting with Cardinal Sean O’Malley, who heads the pope’s abuse committee, in the case involving Bishop Juan Barros. Peter Saunders, a Briton who was abused by two priests as a teenager, told the Guardian that in an emergency meeting with Cardinal Sean O’Malley, who heads the pope’s abuse committee, he would demand action in a case involving a Chilean bishop, Juan Barros.
The Chilean, who was appointed to the Osorno diocese in January, has been accused of covering up child abuse by his mentor, Reverend Fernando Karadima, who the Vatican found guilty of molestation in 2011. Barros has denied the allegations. Barros, who was appointed to the Osorno diocese in January, has been accused of covering up child abuse by his mentor, the Rev Fernando Karadima, whom the Vatican found guilty of molestation in 2011. Barros has denied the allegations.
“Bishops, priests or other religious [officials] who have convictions, credible allegations or who have covered up for perpetrators must be removed from my church. That’s what I’ll be asking Cardinal Sean to pass to the pope, if I don’t get to see him myself,” Saunders said.“Bishops, priests or other religious [officials] who have convictions, credible allegations or who have covered up for perpetrators must be removed from my church. That’s what I’ll be asking Cardinal Sean to pass to the pope, if I don’t get to see him myself,” Saunders said.
Related: Pope appoints British child sexual abuse survivor to church commissionRelated: Pope appoints British child sexual abuse survivor to church commission
He added that he was hoping to “collar Francis at the same time” as the meeting because they will be dining in the same refectory. Marie Collins, an abuse survivor from Ireland, and two other members of the committee will also be meeting O’Malley. He added that he was hoping to “collar Francis at the same time” because they would be dining in the same refectory. Marie Collins, an abuse survivor from Ireland, and two other members of the committee will also meet O’Malley.
A Vatican spokesman declined to comment.A Vatican spokesman declined to comment.
Collins and Saunders’ appointment to the abuse committee by Pope Francis - they were the first abuse survivors to be included - was celebrated at the time of their selection in 2014 as a sign of how seriously the pontiff wanted to address the issue. Collins’ and Saunders’ appointment to the abuse committee – they were the first abuse survivors to be included – was celebrated at the time of their selection in 2014 as a sign of how seriously Francis took the issue.
The members’ demand for an emergency meeting with O’Malley proves, however, that the Barros controversy is escalating. It risks severely undermining the pope’s stated commitment to addressing the church’s legacy of abuse and cover-ups. However, the Barros controversy risks severely undermining the pope’s stated commitment to addressing the church’s legacy of abuse and coverups.
Following Barros’s initial appointment, there was some speculation that the pope might not have been aware of the allegations against Barros. Since then, however, the Vatican has issued its unequivocal support for his selection, saying it had vetted Barros thoroughly and found no “objective reason” to stop his appointment to the southern Chilean diocese. Following Barros’s initial appointment, there was some speculation that the pope might not have been aware of the allegations against him. Since then, however, the Vatican has issued its unequivocal support for his selection, saying it had vetted Barros thoroughly and found no “objective reason” to stop his appointment to the Osorno diocese.
In some cases, Barros has been accused not only of covering up for Karadima, who is living a cloistered life of “penitence and prayer”, but of observing the abuse. Barros has said that he was unaware of any allegations against Karadima until they became public in media reports in 2010. In some cases, Barros has been accused not only of covering up for Karadima, who is living a cloistered life of “penitence and prayer”, but of observing the abuse. Barros has said he was unaware of any allegations against Karadima until they became public in media reports in 2010.
Saunders told the Guardian that he would also be passing a letter to Pope Francis in which he would ask the Argentinean pontiff to retract a comment he made in which he said it was acceptable to smack children as long as their dignity was maintained. Saunders told the Guardian that he would also be passing a letter to Francis in which he would ask the pontiff to retract a comment that it was acceptable to smack children as long as their dignity was maintained.
Saunders said he wanted the pope to address the issue in his speech before the UN in September. “Children should be loved, nurtured and led by example. They don’t need violence of any kind. There is enough of that in the world,” he said. Saunders said he wanted the pope to address the issue in his speech to the UN in September. “Children should be loved, nurtured and led by example. They don’t need violence of any kind. There is enough of that in the world,” he said.