Vatican "surprise" at allegations by UN Committee for Rights of the Child
Vatican City ( AsiaNews) - The Holy See is surprised by the allegations contained in the concluding observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child presented today in Geneva, which lays serious charges against the Vatican on the issue of child sexual abuse committed by members of the clergy. The UN agency claims that the Holy See is still violating the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The "surprise" is expressed by Msgr. Silvano Maria Tomasi (pictured) , the Vatican 's permanent observer at the UN offices in Geneva in an interview with Vatican Radio, while a statement from the Press Office of the Holy See says that " he Holy See takes note of the Concluding Observations on its Reports, which will be submitted to a thorough study and examination, in full respect of the Convention in the different areas presented by the Committee according to international law and practice, as well as taking into consideration the public interactive debate with the Committee, held on 16 January 2014" . The statement goes on to add that "the Holy See does, however, regret to see in some points of the Concluding Observations an attempt to interfere with Catholic Church teaching on the dignity of human person and in the exercise of religious freedom. The Holy See reiterates its commitment to defending and protecting the rights of the child, in line with the principles promoted by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and according to the moral and religious values offered by Catholic doctrine".
The reference according to Msgr. Tomasi, regards the "recommendation that is made to the Holy See to change his position on the issue of abortion." The same prelate "very unjust statements" and points out that the report seems not to have taken any account of the Committee's findings during the meeting with the delegation of the Holy See, which took place January 16, 2014 . " The downside of the document is that it seems that had already been prepared before the meeting of the Committee with the Holy See Delegation, which gave precise and detailed answers on various points, which were never included in this final document, or at least do not appear to have been taken seriously". Yet " the very introduction to the final report recognizes the clarity of the answers given, and the fact that no attempt was made to avoid any request made by the Committee, on the basis of available evidence, and where there was no immediate information available, promises were made that it would be forthcoming, according to the directives of the Holy See, in the same procedure that all governments follow".
"So it had seemed to have
been a constructive dialogue and I think that it should stay that way. Given
the impression gained from the direct dialogue between the Holy See Delegation and
the Committee and the text of the conclusions and recommendations, it is
tempting to say that the text was probably already written
beforehand and does not reflect the content or transparency that had transpired,
if not in some hasty addition".
"In
fact, the document seems not to be updated, taking into account what has been
done by the Holy See in recent years, with measures taken directly by Vatican
City State and then in various countries by individual Episcopal
Conferences. The report therefore lacks the proper perspective and update to
date information that has actually seen a number of changes to the protection
of children that I find it difficult to find the same level of commitment, in
other institutions or even other states. This is simply a matter
of concrete, proven facts, which can not be distorted".
"This
committee has done a disservice to the United Nations, by attempting to introduce
and demand that the Holy See to change its non-negotiable teaching". And
"probably - Msgr . Tomasi concluded - non-governmental organizations - with
interests in homosexuality, gay marriage and other issues - certainly submitted
their observations and somehow strengthened the ideological line"
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