Pope Francis appoints Chilean Juan Carlos Cruz to Commission for the Protection of Minors

Pope Francis appointed Juan Carlos Cruz a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, according to the Holy See press office on March 24.

Honored to participate in the prevention of sexual abuse at Church Convention @ceprome with @hans_zollner @BishopScicluna and many others in Mexico City. Great experience and a place where survivors make their voices heard! pic.twitter.com/D6XA1PKfxo

– Juan Carlos Cruz Ch. (@Jccruzchellew) November 8, 2019

Juan Carlos Cruz was the victim of former Chilean priest Fernando Karadima, who in 2011 was convicted by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith of sexually abusing minors in the 1980s and 1990s.

Cruz declared to be homosexual and contrary to the teachings of the Church on homosexuality. On March 15, he criticized the document from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith which states that the Church cannot bless same-sex couples.

Cruz, currently an activist for the LGTB agenda, told The Associated Press that day that people would leave the Catholic Church “if the Church and the CDF don’t move forward with the world.”

Cruz’s appointment was celebrated by the controversial Dominican nun, Lucía Caram, who, in addition to defending abortion and homosexual unions, denies the virginity of the Virgin Mary and assures that the relationship of the Mother of God with Saint Joseph implied “having sex.”.

Friend @jccruzchellew
God bless you@Pontifex_es do not condemn yourself: trust yourself! pic.twitter.com/cRCQxEZvkT

– Sor Lucía Caram (@sorluciacaram) March 24, 2021

This appointment was also congratulated by Jesuit James Martin, also known for his support of LGTB groups.

Congratulations to my friend @jccruzchellew on his appointment by the Holy Father today as a member of the Clergy Abuse Commission. Its story is a story of courage, perseverance and faith. https://t.co/CNmz0lLwZm

– James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ) March 24, 2021

Juan Carlos Cruz, who will be part of the Vatican commission for three years, thanked Pope Francis on his Twitter account “for entrusting me with this appointment. I deeply appreciate it “and added that” it renews my commitment to continue working to end the scourge of abuse and for so many survivors who still do not get justice, “he said.

Cruz joins the current members of the commission chaired by Cardinal Seán O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston (USA) and member of the Council of Cardinals who advises the Pope on the reform of the curia.

The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors was established by Pope Francis in 2014 as an advisory body to improve Church standards and procedures for the protection of children and vulnerable adults.

Pope Francis received Cruz in the Vatican in April 2018 with James Hamilton and José Andrés Murillo, two other victims of Karadima. On this occasion, the Pope apologized for having defended during his visit to Chile Bishop Juan Barros, accused of having concealed the abuses of Karadima.

In a subsequent interview, Cruz said he raised the issue of his homosexuality during a private meeting with the Pope.

According to the press release of March 24, the Pope renewed fifteen members of this commission for one year: Bishop Luis Manuel Ali Herrera (Colombia), Father Hans Zollner (Germany), Sister Jane Bertelsen (United Kingdom), Sister Arina. Gonsalves (India), Sister Kayula Lesa (Zambia), Sister Hermengild Makoro (South Africa), Professor Hanna Suchocka (Poland), Professor Ernesto Caffo (Italy), Dr Gabriel Dy-Lyacco (Philippines), Benyam Dawit Mezmur (Ethiopia) , Professor John Owen Neville (Australia), Nelson Giovanelli (Brazil), Professor Myriam Wijlens (Netherlands), Teresa Kettelkamp Morris (USA) and Sinalelea Fe’Ao (Tonga).