Survivors' groups arrive in Rome, pushing for a decisive stance on abuse and accountability from church leadership ahead of the papal election.
Papal Election: Survivors Demand Action on Abuse Crisis
Papal Election: Survivors Demand Action on Abuse Crisis
Advocates urge the next pope to prioritize ending clerical sexual abuse during conclave preparations.
As the Cardinals gather to elect a new pope in the Sistine Chapel, survivors of sexual abuse by clergy are making strong appeals for the next pontiff to address the crisis that has plagued the Roman Catholic Church for decades. Organizations representing these survivors assert that a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse is necessary, alongside accountability measures for church leaders who have mishandled cases in the past.
Peter Isely, a prominent member of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), expressed hopes that the new pope would work closely with survivors to end clerical abuse. The organization recently launched an initiative to track the response of each cardinal to credible allegations against priests during their tenures. According to Isely, very few within the church hierarchy are without fault.
In light of ongoing discussions among the Cardinals regarding sexual abuse, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni noted that the subject remains a critical wound for the church, emphasizing the importance of keeping awareness of these issues alive while seeking solutions. SNAP has also outlined actions it believes the new pope should take during his first 100 days to effectively tackle the ongoing crisis.
With growing urgency from survivors and advocates, the outcome of the papal election could have profound implications for the future handling of sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church.
Peter Isely, a prominent member of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), expressed hopes that the new pope would work closely with survivors to end clerical abuse. The organization recently launched an initiative to track the response of each cardinal to credible allegations against priests during their tenures. According to Isely, very few within the church hierarchy are without fault.
In light of ongoing discussions among the Cardinals regarding sexual abuse, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni noted that the subject remains a critical wound for the church, emphasizing the importance of keeping awareness of these issues alive while seeking solutions. SNAP has also outlined actions it believes the new pope should take during his first 100 days to effectively tackle the ongoing crisis.
With growing urgency from survivors and advocates, the outcome of the papal election could have profound implications for the future handling of sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church.
