Vatican panel on sexual abuse advocates for compensation for victims
The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors has voiced its concerns regarding the Catholic Church’s inadequate management of clergy misconduct cases. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The Catholic Church’s inadequate management of clergy misconduct cases has come under fire from the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
Pope Francis’ child protection advisory group has urged for increased transparency from the Vatican office that handles clergy sex abuse claims, in addition to advocating for public apologies and financial restitution for victims. These measures are aimed at rectifying the ongoing crisis within the Church.
In its inaugural annual report released on Tuesday, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors emphasized that victims of clerical abuse should have improved access to information about their cases, as well as a well-defined policy regarding compensation.
The commission also expressed concerns that the Vatican's slow case processing and a lack of transparency were causing further trauma for victims. It noted that the Vatican's reluctance to release comprehensive statistical information about its operations continues “to foment distrust among the faithful, especially the victim/survivor community.”
The report highlighted that “civil and canonical processes can be difficult, slow, and even a source of ongoing victimization.” It further asserted that victims should be entitled to compensation for their suffering, including financial reparations, and underlined that “it is important for survivors to be properly heard, accompanied, and supported.”
The commission offered insights from around the globe and put forth recommendations to enhance the safeguarding of minors. It warned that the progress regarding these issues differs significantly worldwide, suggesting that clerical abuse remains a “publicized issue” in some regions while protections are “inadequate” in parts of Central and South America, Africa, and Asia. Additionally, it recommended appointing a Vatican advocate or ombudsman dedicated to addressing the needs of victims.
The Roman Catholic Church has faced clergy sex abuse controversies globally for decades. A 2023 study conducted in Switzerland uncovered over 1,000 instances of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and others since the mid-20th century.
In a troubling 2021 report, the Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church revealed that as many as 330,000 children may have been sexually abused by clergy and laypersons in France from the 1950s to 2020.
Established by Pope Francis in 2014, the commission for protecting minors came into being a year after his election. In 2019, he abolished the so-called ‘pontifical secrecy’ rule concerning sexual abuse of minors by clergy.
An advocacy organization that monitors abusers responded to the new report, stating that the commission’s findings were “hampered by their limited purpose.”
“The only safeguarding test that matters is whether bishops are removing abusers,” remarked Anne Barrett Boyle to the Associated Press, adding that the report “doesn’t give any measure of that, because the commission itself is powerless to do so.”
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
Pope Francis’ child protection advisory group has urged for increased transparency from the Vatican office that handles clergy sex abuse claims, in addition to advocating for public apologies and financial restitution for victims. These measures are aimed at rectifying the ongoing crisis within the Church.
In its inaugural annual report released on Tuesday, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors emphasized that victims of clerical abuse should have improved access to information about their cases, as well as a well-defined policy regarding compensation.
The commission also expressed concerns that the Vatican's slow case processing and a lack of transparency were causing further trauma for victims. It noted that the Vatican's reluctance to release comprehensive statistical information about its operations continues “to foment distrust among the faithful, especially the victim/survivor community.”
The report highlighted that “civil and canonical processes can be difficult, slow, and even a source of ongoing victimization.” It further asserted that victims should be entitled to compensation for their suffering, including financial reparations, and underlined that “it is important for survivors to be properly heard, accompanied, and supported.”
The commission offered insights from around the globe and put forth recommendations to enhance the safeguarding of minors. It warned that the progress regarding these issues differs significantly worldwide, suggesting that clerical abuse remains a “publicized issue” in some regions while protections are “inadequate” in parts of Central and South America, Africa, and Asia. Additionally, it recommended appointing a Vatican advocate or ombudsman dedicated to addressing the needs of victims.
The Roman Catholic Church has faced clergy sex abuse controversies globally for decades. A 2023 study conducted in Switzerland uncovered over 1,000 instances of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and others since the mid-20th century.
In a troubling 2021 report, the Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church revealed that as many as 330,000 children may have been sexually abused by clergy and laypersons in France from the 1950s to 2020.
Established by Pope Francis in 2014, the commission for protecting minors came into being a year after his election. In 2019, he abolished the so-called ‘pontifical secrecy’ rule concerning sexual abuse of minors by clergy.
An advocacy organization that monitors abusers responded to the new report, stating that the commission’s findings were “hampered by their limited purpose.”
“The only safeguarding test that matters is whether bishops are removing abusers,” remarked Anne Barrett Boyle to the Associated Press, adding that the report “doesn’t give any measure of that, because the commission itself is powerless to do so.”
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
