Pope warns of lost trust without more abuse accountability

By NICOLE WINFIELD
Associated Press

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has given a new mandate to his sex abuse advisory commission. He told its members they must work with bishops conferences around the world to establish special welcome centers for victims and must audit the church’s progress on fighting abuse from its new perch within the Vatican.  Francis warned that without more transparency and accountability, the faithful would continue to lose trust in the Catholic hierarchy. Francis issued the new marching orders when he spoke Friday with the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Francis created the group in 2013 as an ad hoc body to advise the church on best practices to protect minors and prevent abuse.