Survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy recently met Pope Leo at the Vatican, marking their first encounter with him since he took office in May. Gemma Hickey, president of the advocacy group Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA Global), noted that the meeting occurred early in his papacy and expressed hope for future collaborations.
ECA Global is advocating for a global zero-tolerance policy for clergy members found guilty of sexual abuse, a standard that has already been implemented in the United States. During the meeting, Pope Leo acknowledged the existing resistance to such measures in various regions. The issue of clergy sexual abuse has been a longstanding concern for the Catholic Church, complicating the Vatican’s efforts to address it effectively.
Pope Francis, Leo’s predecessor, initiated efforts to tackle the problem by organizing a notable summit on the topic, as well as revising Church laws to criminalize sexual abuse explicitly. Despite these changes, challenges persist, as highlighted by a recent Vatican-commissioned report that criticized Church leadership for a lack of accountability and alleged cover-ups of historical abuse cases.
Hickey, a survivor of abuse themselves, described the meeting as historic and expressed optimism about the potential for future dialogue with Pope Leo. ECA Global consists of victims and advocates from over 30 countries, and during the meeting, they presented their call for a zero-tolerance policy and discussed a potential change in canon law.
The Vatican’s child protection commission has emphasized the need for clearer protocols for the resignation or removal of Church leaders in abuse cases. In their conversation with the Pope, Hickey conveyed the shared goal of ending clergy abuse and stressed the importance of maintaining a constructive relationship moving forward. They expressed hope that this dialogue might pave the way for meaningful changes within the Church.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cev1e7kw0d3o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss