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VATICAN CITY, Feb 6 (Reuters) - A British member of a Vatican advisory commission on sexual abuse who has been among the most outspokenly critical of the Vatican, has left the group, the Vatican said on Saturday.
A Vatican statement said that at a commission meeting "it was decided" that Peter Saunders would take a leave of absence. Saunders, himself a victim of sexual abuse by a priest, did not immediately reply to a telephone message requesting a comment on the circumstances of his departure.
It said Saunders would now "consider how he might best support the commission's work".
Last year, Saunders made waves when he said that Australian Cardinal George Pell should be dismissed over allegations he failed to take action to protect children years ago.
. Pell is now the Vatican's economic minister.
The 17-member commission, which is advising Pope Francis on how to root out sex abuse in the Church, later distanced itself from Saunders comments.
Saunders has also been outspoken about a case of an alleged cover-up of sexual abuse in Chile and that threatened to resign from the commission over the Vatican's handling of that case. The Vatican says the commission is an advisory group and members should not make comments on individual cases.
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