Pope Francis' sex abuse commission has made new progress after languishing for much of the past year.

Commission member Marie Collins tells The Associated Press that the group approved its legal statutes, finalized proposed new members and divided up into working groups to focus on outreach to survivors, holding bishops accountable and keeping pedophiles out of the priesthood.

The commission met over the past weekend for the third time since it was announced last December.

Collins said Monday that she had been frustrated at the commission's slow pace to date but was hopeful that progress had been made.

The commission now must put its recommendations to Francis for approval.