Turmoil on Papal Child Protection Commission

Members of a papal commission set up to advise Pope Francis on the protection of children “decided” on Feb. 6 that one of its members, Peter Saunders, should “take a leave of absence.” Saunders has been frequently quoted by the press in criticism of specific church decisions and appointments and of the commission’s pace of reform deliberation. Pope Francis appointed Saunders, of Britain, to the 17-member commission in December 2014. A survivor of sexual abuse as a child, Mr. Saunders had set up Britain’s National Association for People Abused in Childhood to support survivors and develop better resources for responding to abuse. Saunders issued a statement charging that his fellow commission members “reacted to my criticisms in a frightening way, acting as if dissent and free speech would make their work more difficult.” He denied that he was willingly accepting a leave of absence. “I was appointed by His Holiness Pope Francis,” he said, “and I will talk only with him about my position.”