Father Hans Zollner Archives

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

Church damaged by abuse, ‘but more damage done to people,’ says abuse expert

Feb 9, 2020

Almost 200 people filled the Driscoll Hall Auditorium on Villanova University’s campus Jan. 29 looking to deepen their understanding about global perspectives on the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church.

By Gia Myers

Survivors, experts agree: End of pontifical secrecy a step toward transparency

Dec 19, 2019

When Pope Francis in a landmark move eliminated the so-called “pontifical secret” in clerical abuse cases on Tuesday, the decision turns out to be at least one instance when the Vatican, clerical abuse survivors and experts in child protection all agree.

By Elise Harris