UN Experts Ask Pope Francis To Prevent Child Sexual Abuse In The Church

A UN human rights panel said Monday it had urged the Vatican to take action to reduce cases of child sexual abuse. in Catholic institutions and prevent their recurrence.

Experts called in a statement to “The Holy See to take all measures to stop and prevent the repetition of violence and sexual abuse against children in Catholic institutions, and ensure that those responsible will respond and that compensation will be paid to the victims ”.

The four experts, who do not speak on behalf of the United Nations but to whom they report on their findingsthey wrote to the Vatican in April.

According to the letter released on Monday, they expressed their “Of greatest concern to the many allegations around the world of sexual abuse and violence committed by members of the Catholic Church against children”.

They also said to be concerned about the measures taken by the church to “protect alleged perpetrators, cover up crimes, hinder the liability of alleged perpetrators and evade compensation for victims”.

Experts said there had been persistent allegations of obstruction and non-cooperation with legal procedures.

Experts urged The Vatican will cooperate fully with the police and justice of the countries concerned, and to avoid signing agreements to escape the responsibility of church members accused of abuse.

Meeting of the Pope with Juan Carlos Cruz

The request of the UN experts is known the day after the Pope’s meeting with the Chilean Juan carlos cruz -one of the three victims of the priest Fernando Karadima- who thanked him for his recent appointment as member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

Journalist based in Philadelphia (United States), Cruz was one of the most critical voices against Francisco due to the extreme defense of the pontiff of the Bishop of Osorno, Juan Barros, considered a cover-up for Karadima during years of abuse.

But after the investigation which ordered the Maltese bishop Charles Scicluna, FRancisco claimed to have been misinformed, apologized to all the victims and summoned Cruz, José Murillo and James Hamilton to the Vatican. be able to speak to them in private in the Vatican.

The case ended with the renewal by the Pope of the entire Chilean Episcopal Conference.

Recently, Cruz, also a gay rights activist, was very critical of the note from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, authorized by Pope Francis, in which it was recalled that the Catholic Church cannot give its blessing to same-sex unions.

(With information from AFP Yes EFE)

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