Pope Francis appoints New Zealander to Vatican Commission on child abuse

by NZ Catholic staff
Pope Francis has announced the appointment of Bill Kilgallon, Director of the National Office for Professional Standards of the Catholic Church in New Zealand to his newly established Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors overnight in Rome.
Mr Kilgallon is one of the nine new appointments the Pope made around the world to complete the 17-man commission he created last nine months ago. The other members come from Colombia, France, Ireland, the Philippines, England, South Africa, Zambia, Australia, Italy, Poland, Germany, and Argentina.
The commission for the protection of minors seeks to give a model for practices that provide an adequate and pastoral response to situations of abuse. Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston as chair of the commission.
New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference president Archbishop John Dew expressed confidence in Mr Kilgallon.
“It is pleasing to us that a New Zealander can contribute to the very important work of the Commission. Bill has been in New Zealand for the past four years, for some of that time as Director of the National Office for Professional Standards where he oversees the investigation and resolution of complaints of abuse, as well as improving procedures and education as preventative measures. Prior to that he had a long career in social work and health services in the United Kingdom,” Archbishop Dew said in behalf of the NZ bishops.
“We’re blessed that someone of his international experience and professionalism is working in this area in New Zealand and he can now contribute through the work of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors whose aim is to propose the necessary changes to ensure the protection of minors throughout the global Church.
“As he begins this work we offer our congratulations and prayerful support to Bill and the people and work of the Commission,”Archbishop Dew added.
Mr Kilgallon said he is aware the huge responsibility that comes with the appointment.“In accepting this role I’m very aware of the responsibility it entails as the Church across the world learns from the past, brings together best practice and works to make changes now and for the future,” he said.
“The Commission made a statement following their first meeting, saying that as they work to establish the structure and parameters of their work programme ‘that, from the very beginning of our work, we have adopted the principle that the best interests of a child or vulnerable adult are primary when any decision is made’. This is certainly true for my contribution to this work,” Mr Kilgallon said.