- Title: ITALY: Abuse victims group urges new pope to tackle child sex abuse
- Date: 8th March 2013
- Summary: (PIXELLATED FOOTAGE) ROME, ITALY (MARCH 8, 2013) (REUTERS) MEMBER OF THE SURVIVORS NETWORK OF THOSE ABUSED BY PRIESTS (SNAP), BARBARA DORRIS, PUTTING UP PHOTOGRAPHS OF CHILD SEX ABUSE VICTIMS CLOSE ON PHOTOGRAPHS ON WALL DORRIS SORTING THROUGH PHOTOS PHOTOGRAPHS DIRECTOR OF THE SURVIVORS NETWORK OF THOSE ABUSED BY PRIESTS (SNAP) DAVID CLOHESSY AND DORRIS AT NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA GATHERED (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR OF THE SURVIVORS NETWORK OF THOSE ABUSED BY PRIESTS (SNAP), DAVID CLOHESSY, SAYING: "We believe that a key part of this crisis is the fact that church officials insist on trying to be everything to everybody, and in fact they do need to essentially 'render unto Caesar' in some of these complex matters. Specifically, we really believe that church officials should turn to independent secular professionals when it comes to screening seminarians, investigating abuse cases that can't be brought through the criminal justice system, treating child molesting clerics and housing child molesting clerics." DORRIS HOLDING UP PHOTOS OF CLOHESSY AND HERSELF AS CHILDREN (SOUNDBITE) (English) MEMBER OF THE SURVIVORS NETWORK OF THOSE ABUSED BY PRIESTS (SNAP), BARBARA DORRIS, SAYING: "And we want to discourage current and former cover-ups by severely disciplining clerics like Cardinal Mahoney. He's here, he's voting, it's like he's done nothing wrong so in some ways that is hurtful, it's rubbing salt into the wounds of the victims. Documents from LA show that it's not an accident, it's not a problem from of past that he knowingly helped predators flee the country, again we go back to the passport issue, he knowingly moved predators from diocese to diocese and did everything in his power to protect predators over children." NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 23rd March 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Italy
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Crime,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA7KD5K2H6188D13M92H8KS0CP4
- Story Text: Members of a U.S.- based organisation representing abuse victims set out on Friday (March 8) 20 steps for the next pope in order to tackle child abuse.
Director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) David Clohessy said there were vital moves the new pontiff could take in his first 100 days in office to make children safer and improve the way church officials deal with child abuse cases.
Among the suggestions were an order for bishops to set up a 'whistleblower fund' to reward church staff who help abusive clerics be convicted.
He also urged the church to turn to experts like licensed therapists and former police to deal with abuse cases rather than church staff.
"We believe that a key part of this crisis is the fact that church officials insist on trying to be everything to everybody, and in fact they do need to essentially 'render unto Caesar' in some of these complex matters. Specifically, we really believe that church officials should turn to independent secular professionals when it comes to screening seminarians, investigating abuse cases that can't be brought through the criminal justice system, treating child molesting clerics and housing child molesting clerics," he said during a daily news conference in Rome.
SNAP member Barbara Dorris said it was vital the church did more to stop cover-ups for church abuse cases. She said allowing clerics like Cardinal Roger Mahoney, who was stripped of all public duties as Los Angeles archbishop after being linked to efforts to conceal child sex abuse by priests, to take part in the Papal conclave was 'hurtful'.
"And we want to discourage current and former cover-ups by severely disciplining clerics like Cardinal Mahoney. He's here, he's voting, it's like he's done nothing wrong so in some ways that is hurtful, it's rubbing salt into the wounds of the victims. Documents from LA show that it's not an accident, it's not a problem from of past that he knowingly helped predators flee the country, again we go back to the passport issue, he knowingly moved predators from diocese to diocese and did everything in his power to protect predators over children," she said.
SNAP has filed a report with the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) which criticises the Vatican in its handling of clergy sex crimes.
It is the first time the organisation has made a formal appeal to the UN for help with the crisis.
The Roman Catholic Church has been rocked in recent decades by repeated sex scandals, primarily in wealthy Western nations such as the United States, Ireland and Germany.
Many of the cases dated back decades and became known only later.
Roman Catholic cardinals will decide later on Friday when to start their conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict and the secret gathering will most likely begin early next week, the Vatican said.
Benedict's surprise abdication last month has drawn most of the world's cardinals to Vatican City for discussions on the problems facing the 1.2 billion-member Church, and to decide on the profile of the man they want to take charge.
There is no clear favourite to take the helm of the Church, which faces an array of problems following Benedict's rocky, eight-year reign, ranging from sexual abuse scandals to internal strife at the heart of the Vatican administration.
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