Expert: Abuse will play an important role in the next papal election

German child protection expert Hans Zollner believes that sexual abuse in the Catholic Church will play an important role in the next papal election. Zollner told the Hungarian online portal "telex.hu" on Monday: "Cardinals who will take part in a future conclave [will] have to ask themselves how they dealt with cases of abuse, what they did or did not do with the perpetrators during the canonical process."

Zollner commented explicitly on the initiative of the "Snap" association for those affected by abuse. At the end of March, it filed a complaint against six prominent cardinals in the Vatican. The organisation accuses the churchmen of covering up sexual abuse of priests and church employees or failing to prosecute them sufficiently. In particular, it concerns Cardinals Peter Erdö, Kevin Farrell, Victor Fernandez, Mario Grech, Robert Prevost and Luis Tagle.

Zollner doubts the appropriateness of the procedure. "I see neither the legal basis for the current initiative nor the specific allegations," says the child protection expert. He advises: "In cases like this, SNAP should adhere to the same rules of procedure that the church applies." This includes involving the relevant police authorities, courts and public prosecutors. This is the only way to ensure that a complaint is taken seriously.

Zollner on the statute of limitations: the church has a moral duty

Zollner also appealed to the moral duty of church representatives when dealing with abuse. The church must not forget that it cannot only provide a legal response to cases of abuse, said the expert. "We also have a duty to provide a moral and spiritual response." Zollner made his comments in the context of the judicial reappraisal of sexual violence in the Catholic Church. "Before a secular court, the bishops usually invoke the statute of limitations, while the victims argue that the church is not allowed to invoke it." Anyone who takes legal action will receive a legal response to the respective case, according to the abuse expert. It is therefore important that those affected can turn to well-informed and competent counsellors. The church must create a safe environment for them - and safe procedures, said Zollner. As a community, the church is responsible for these victims and the abuse.

Zollner also advocated open communication. "Every report, every form of communication is important, we need to talk about the fact that these cases of abuse took place." It is important to talk about what exactly happened. "Catholics must be able to face the truth and admit what happened. Only then can we achieve forgiveness." This is why dealing openly with the public is part of coming to terms with the past.

Zollner is a Jesuit and Director of the Institute of Anthropology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He heads the "Centre for Child Protection" (Institute for the Protection of Minors from Abuse). He resigned from the Pontifical Child Protection Commission in 2023 after extensive criticism of its working methods. (tmg/KNA)