Vatican reported in a statement that “evangelization, relationship with other religions and the theme of abuse” stand out among the most urgent themes of the Church
For decades, the sexual abuse committed by priests against children have been hidden, which is one of the most painful challenges of the first South American pontiff, which has done more than any other in office to address this type of abuse. Now, on the eve of the conclave for the election of the new Pope, the Catholic Church brings the theme to the center of the conclave to replace the Argentine pontiff, killed on April 21. With the text “You are Lux Mundi”, the Argentine Jesuit made it mandatory to communicate to the Church about any suspicion of sexual aggression or harassment, as well as any attempt at the hierarchy to cover up the fact. THE He reported in a statement that “evangelization, relationship with other religions and the theme of abuse” stand out among the most urgent themes of the Church. The cardinals now put the theme among the main challenges of Francisco’s substitute, which will begin to be chosen at closed doors on Wednesday (7).
“We applaud the cardinals’ bare recognition that ending the abuse crisis should be a priority for the next Pope,” said Anne Barrett Doyle, codirer of the American NGO Bishop Accountability, who documents clerical violence. “The Church around the world, through its parishes, schools, hospitals and orphanages, takes care of tens of thousands of children. The most sacred obligation of the next Pope should be protected them from abuse. Their security is at stake, as well as the moral authority of the church,” he added. When Francis took power in 2013, the Church struggled to respond to an avalanche of revelations, and many Catholics were horrified.
Turning point
A turning point occurred in 2018 during a trip to Chile. The Pope initially defended a local bishop against accusations that he covered the crimes of an elderly priest, then admitted to having committed “serious misconceptions” in this case, an unprecedented attitude to a pontiff. He forced the resignation of all the bishops of Chile. He also attacked American cardinal Theodore McCarrick after he was considered guilty by a Vatican Court of sexually abusing a teenager in the 1970s. McCarrick died earlier this month in the United States at age 94.
In 2019, Francisco mobilized to make lasting changes in the way the church managed the abuse. He eliminated the pontifical confidentiality of children’s sexual aggression. The complaints, testimonies and documents of internal judgments in the Church can now be delivered to Civil Justice, although there is no obligation. Victims can also access their files and sentences. Despite Francisco’s measures, the victims continued to regret that the clergy was not required to denounce possible crimes to civil justice unless it was forced to do so by the laws of the country. But “this does not require public transparency, public dissemination, not even involves informing the order forces,” said Barrett Doyle.
Next Pope and Sexual Abuse
“What we need the next Pope is a significant action, no longer rhetoric … that reveals the names of the thousands of priests declared guilty to date, according to the law of the Church,” said Doyle. And that “promulgate a universal law of the church that permanently remove from the ministry all the abusers of proven children.” In an evaluation of February 2025, the SNAP victims’ association stated that, in fact, the Vatican continued to retain documents about abuse cases and also condemned the compulsory complaint as a “half measure”.
Together with Bishop Accountability, this organization is focusing your attention on the next Pope. Doyle even traveled to Rome to defend his case. SNAP has created a site, ConclaveWatch.org, to examine individual cardinals in abuse management. “The last three popes covered the clergy’s sexual abuse. We can’t allow ourselves a room,” he said.
*With information from AFP
Posted by Sarah Paula
