Teresa Morris Kettelkamp steps down from her role as Adjunct Secretary for the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors due to family reasons, expressing her support for the Church's work to safeguard children.
Vatican News Teresa Morris Kettelkamp has stepped down from the position of Adjunct Secretary at the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. The news came in a statement released on March 27, in which the President of the Commission, Archbishop Thibault Verny, explained "with immense gratitude and deep sadness" that Ms. Kettelkamp will be stepping down for family reasons on Aprile 1. In the statement, Archbishop Verny wrote, “For the past decade, Teresa Kettelkamp has been dedicated to the Commission for the Protection of Minors, bringing her experience in law enforcement and safeguarding to the service of the global Church. Her wisdom, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to victim/survivors have left a lasting mark on the work of the Commission." He went on to express profound gratitude and prayers, both for her and her family. The statement then shared one written by Ms. Kettelkamp on her resignation, in which she expresses her gratitude to the Holy Father. "With deep humility," she thanked Pope Leo XIV for the privilege of serving the Church in this important mission. "For more than a decade, I have been honoured to contribute to the Commission’s vital work, a mission in which I wholeheartedly believe. My commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable persons is rooted in a conviction shared by all Christians: that every human being possesses inherent dignity, created in the image and likeness of God." She went on to describe some of her work since joining the Commission in 2015, saying her work has "centred on developing universal guidelines for safeguarding and supporting victims and survivors of abuse." She recalled being appointed in 2018 and again in 2022 by Pope Francis as a member of the Commission, serving as moderator of the working group focused on healing for survivors and integrating their voices into the life and ministry of the Church. "Throughout this period," she wrote, "my guiding priorities have remained constant: God, family, and work. It is now clear that I must give precedence to my family. My granddaughter was born prematurely in April 2025 and underwent emergency heart surgery. She continues to face persistent challenges, and after thoughtful discernment, I have chosen to be fully present for her and my daughter during this time." Ms. Kettelkamp concluded by expressing her sincere hope "that all of us within the Church will continue steadfastly in the sacred duty of protecting children and vulnerable adults." "Safeguarding is not merely an institutional obligation but a moral responsibility incumbent upon every person of goodwill," she said. Finally, she requested prayers "for my granddaughter and family, and for all children and adults confronting serious health difficulties, as well as for those who care for them."