The document points out regional inequalities, calls for economic reparations and proportional sanctions for those responsible. For the first time, 40 survivors contributed directly.
A new annual report of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors presented by the Vatican, warned that victims of sexual abuse by clergy continue to face retaliation and pressure of church leaders, even decades after the first scandals in the United States.
For the first time, 40 survivors contributed directly to the preparation of the 103-page document, presented to the Pope last month. Some reported that relatives were excommunicated or that their careers within the Church were compromised after making their complaints.
“It is a true cry from the victims. They do not feel heard or accompanied; often there is no empathy or respect,” he said. Luis Manuel Ali Herrerasecretary of the commission.
Challenges and measures of the Church
The report highlights that the cultural resistance and inequality between regions They continue to stop the fight against sexual violence within the Church. According to the Commission, the financial compensation, sanctions for abusers and psychological support They are essential measures for the recovery of victims.
The document emphasizes that the moral obligation of the Church is help heal those who suffered abuseand that financial agreements are necessary to guarantee therapies and comprehensive assistance.
The Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed his commitment to the commission, created by Pope Francis in 2014, and appointed the French bishop in July Thibault as the new president, replacing Cardinal Sean O’Malley. Despite the progress, the Secrecy of confession continues to prevent clergy from reporting certain crimesunless required by the civil law of the country.
The report also notes that, although the Church can impose sanctions that include reduction to the secular state, minor measures are often appliedas periods of retirement, and many dioceses still show reluctance to completely expel guilty priests.
The audit by the Vatican mission office found that only a small number of cases of abuse in Africa and Asia arrives in Rome, which shows that these regions are decades behind the West in reporting and managing cases. The data suggests that in these areas, where abuse remains taboo and conflict and poverty exist, the Vatican still faces enormous challenges to guarantee justice and protection to minors.
Source: Ambito
