By Mwenya Mukuka
 |
| Monsignor Robert Oliver |
Secretary General for Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors Monsignor Robert Oliver said that the Church in Zambia should be commended for speaking passionately and taking steps in addressing the issue of child abuse.
“When I met the Bishops, they spoke so powerfully on the need ensure that every child is safe and grows up in a peaceful environment in love. There are some exciting and commendable things happening here in Zambia,” he said.
Monsignor Oliver further appealed to society not to conceal any sexual abuse against child or minors.
“What sexual abuse does to someone is bad. We should not conceal these perpetrators; it does not matter whether it’s a person in authority in an institution, Catholic Priest, Uncle or Father. We should come together now against this vice. Therefore our work transcends being a religious organisation. We work with Catholic institutions, civil society and others,” he said.
Monsignor Oliver was in Zambia with his delegation to conduct a one day workshop in Lusaka, Monday, 23rdJanuary, 2017. The theme of the workshop was on the need to implement the Catholic Policy on the protection of Children and Vulnerable in society as called by Pope Francis.
Pope Francis has called on the Church to make a ‘decisive action’ to protect children and the young of the whole world and that there should be ‘zero tolerance’ towards those who abuse the young ones.
~Ends~