Father Hans Zollner Archives

Expert warns child protection took ‘severe blow’ during pandemic

Jun 19, 2020

In a webinar talk on child protection, a top expert in the field warned that the risks of online child sexual abuse or exploitation has significantly increased during the coronavirus pandemic, yet attention to the issue has faded.

By Elise Ann Allen

Survivors won’t be ignored, expert says after Pell acquittal

Apr 9, 2020

German Jesuit Father Hans Zollner has acknowledged that the decision of Australia’s top court to acquit Cardinal George Pell of child abuse might make it harder for victims to come forward, stressing that while justice must be respected, survivors should also be supported and believed.

By Elise Ann Allen

Top anti-abuse expert says ‘paternalistic’ attitude is worse than clericalism

Mar 13, 2020

One of the Catholic Church’s leading experts in child protection has said that more dangerous than clericalism in the clerical abuse crisis is a “paternalistic” attitude within the Church that both devalues laypeople and puts clergy on a pedestal.

By Elise Ann Allen

Walking with ‘suffering Christ’ means standing with victims, says priest

Mar 8, 2020

Jesuit Father Hans Zollner, one of the world’s leading experts on safeguarding minors, said the church is suffering “institutional trauma” from clerical sexual abuse, trauma that it must learn to integrate into its theology and understanding of salvation if it is to overcome it.

By Michelle Martin

Fighting abuse in lay movements: Vatican mandates norms, guidelines

Mar 1, 2020

The Vatican office that grants official recognition to international Catholic lay movements and organizations ordered the groups to develop detailed child-protection guidelines and norms for handling allegations of the abuse of minors and vulnerable adults.

By Cindy Wooden

One year after global abuse summit, reaction mixed on progress made

Feb 22, 2020

Exactly one year after Pope Francis’s historic Feb. 21-24 abuse summit, attended by the presidents of all episcopal conferences worldwide, both survivors and experts muse on what the institution has accomplished, and what has yet to be done.

By Elise Ann Allen