Pope plans panel to tackle sexual abuse

Pope Francis is creating a special commission to deal with the clergy sexual abuse crisis on a global scale, a step that comes amid growing criticism that Francis had not given sufficient attention to the scandal.

Boston cardinal Sean O’Malley made the announcement in early December at the Vatican, where he was meeting with Francis and the other members of the so-called Gang of Eight cardinals that the pope chose to help him reform the Roman Curia.

O’Malley, the U.S. bishop with perhaps the most credibility on the abuse issue, listed a range of programmatic ideas for the commission, whose members are expected to include laypeople, mental health professionals and other experts in the field as well as leading churchmen.