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Pope Forms Commission To Advise On Sex Abuse

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Cardinal Sean O'Malley, the archbishop of Boston, listens to a reporter's questions during a press conference at the Vatican, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)
Cardinal Sean O'Malley, the archbishop of Boston, listens to a reporter's questions during a press conference at the Vatican, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)

Pope Francis has responded to complaints that he has largely ignored the clerical sex abuse scandal, agreeing to assemble a panel of experts to advise the Holy See on protecting children from pedophiles and helping abuse victims heal.

It remains to be seen if the experts will take up one of the core issues behind the problem - making bishops who shelter abusive priests accountable - and victims groups immediately questioned whether another church study group would really make progress on an issue that has vexed the Vatican for decades.

Cardinal Sean O'Malley, the archbishop of Boston, announced the creation of the commission Thursday at the conclusion of a meeting between Francis and his eight cardinal advisers who are helping him govern the church and reform the Vatican bureaucracy. Boston was the epicenter of the 2002 clerical sexual abuse scandal in the U.S.

Paddy Agnew, Rome correspondent for The Irish Times, joins Here & Now's Robin Young with details.

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This segment aired on December 6, 2013.

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