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THE VATICAN HAS insisted that it is committed to stamping out sexual abuse by the clergy, as top Church officials were grilled before the UN’s child rights watchdog.
The hearing came as Pope Francis said all Catholics should feel “shame”, in an apparent reference to the scandals that have rocked the Catholic Church.
Under the spotlight at the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva, the Vatican delegation insisted it understood what it had to do to root out sexual crimes.
“The Holy See gets it, that certain things have to be done differently. “It’s not words, it has to be commitment on the ground, on the level of the local churches,” said Monsignor Charles Scicluna, the Vatican’s former top prosecutor.
The Roman Catholic Church has faced a cascade of scandals involving child sexual abuse by priests and Catholic lay officials, from Ireland to the United States and from Australia to Germany.
Pope Francis, who has vowed zero tolerance of abuse since he was elected last March, said the scandals “are the shame of the Church.”
“Do we feel shame? There are so many scandals that I do not want to name them individually but everyone knows about them.” the pope said in a homily today.
Like other signatories of the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Vatican agrees to submit regular reports on its respect for the rules, and to be scrutinised by an 18-member watchdog panel.
Teodoro Pulvirenti, an Italian who lives in New York, and an alleged victim of abuse speaks to journalists ahead of today’s Vatican appearance. (Pic: AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Today’s session, a regular review of the Holy See’s rights record, and not exclusively focused on the abuse issue, marked the Vatican’s second appearance before the committee, the first being in 1995.
UN committee member Hiranthi Wijemanne charged that perpetrators were too often shielded by the Church hierarchy.
“Why is there no mandatory reporting to a country’s judicial authorities when crimes occur? Taking actions against perpetrators is part of justice,” she asked the Vatican’s delegation.
Past cases of abuse were often covered up by priests’ superiors, who typically transferred offenders to new parishes, rather than turn them over to police.
Scicluna insisted this was not Church policy.
“It is not a policy of the Holy See to encourage cover-ups,” he said. “Our guideline has always been that domestic law of the countries where the churches operate needs to be followed,” he added.
The Vatican’s UN ambassador, Monsignor Silvano Tomasi, said the Holy See was legally responsible only for implementing the UN Convention on the tiny territory of Vatican City, a position long criticised by campaigners.
But he said that as the central body of the Church the Vatican was working with its local branches to develop measures to stem sexual abuse.
It was up to nations to crack down, Tomasi insisted. “Priests are not functionaries of the Vatican. Priests are citizens of their own state and fall under its jurisdiction,” he underlined.
‘Such crimes can never be justified’
Benedict XVI, pontiff from 2005 to 2013, was the first pope to apologise to victims and call for zero tolerance of abuse, though critics say that his rhetoric outstripped action.
Pope Francis has vowed to take things further by setting up a special committee to investigate crimes, enforce prevention measures and care for the victims.
Pressed for details of the Vatican committee, Tomasi said the ground rules and membership were still being established.
UN committee member Sara Oviedo questioned the Vatican’s efforts.
“The Holy See has not established any mechanism to investigate those accused of perpetrating sexual abuse, nor to prosecute them,” she said, calling for a “new approach”.
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Lots of talk of preventing it happening again, not enough of bringing previous perpetrators to justice
Can pope Francis not just oust all the child a users in the church and end this?
Then again the last and the one before that should have done the same
They are probably going to have to train a few new priests first or there could be a major shortage.
He won’t do that,
That would require him making an actual meaningful change.
He’s all talk, he’s not changed on important thing in the roman catholic church, he’s a PR guy and nothing more
Sounds about right.
Open your mind please to facts
‘Pope Francis said all Catholics should feel “shame”’
Isn’t this just a way of not indicting the Vatican explicitly? I’m sure everyone should feel shame for everything, but there are very specific issues here which the Pope seems to be dodging.
Its just as well I’m not a catholic,
I would have though Catholics should feel anger, anger with how the Vatican has handled the abuse cases, anger with how the victims were abused. anger with how the Vatican has washed its hands of the abuse cases.
He’s shone on the style front, now time to display some substance, otherwise he’s just a puppet.
All catholics should feel shame? Why exactly when it was only a minority within the church that perpetrated this evil.
Sexual abuse was/is part of the evils inflicted on innocent children. As were/are gender discrimination, physical abuse/neglect, mental abuse/neglect and deliberate discrimination against anyone who fell foul of those in positions of authority. I am speaking from very personal experience. As someone who was born and grew up in another country, it appears that this was a worldwide horror. From my personal experience and knowledge (as a former “insider” in the church) many, many catholics knew what was going on, and chose to “look the other way”. Perhaps this is what pope Francis meant? Before I became the target of deliberate discrimination and neglect, I too “looked the other way”. When I spoke up and tried to rectify a great wrong, it was my turn to become a victim. I do not hate all catholics. Yet what I underwent caused be to turn my back on the Most Holy and Apostolic Church – for ever! Have you ever heard of the term “collective guilt”? It is a term that I personally strongly dislike, but, in the topic under discussion, I feel it could well be extremely appropriate, and justified!
Un committee say 73 million children abused in Catholic church
Thats a big minority
Most decent people would leave an organisation this evil. But then most people still in the Catholic Church are so brainwashed that they can’t think straight.
I left that organisation!
Oh trust me I am not condoning it. I just think Pope Francis could have said all the clergy should feel shame, not all catholics as the majority of them are good people who knew nothing of what was going on.
I do not consider myself a catholic anymore for personal reasons, but the majority of catholics I know that are of my parents generation and older knew nothing of it, and are outraged and shocked by it all. But they knew nothing so how could they act upon it. They cant exactly leave catholicism anymore as the Vatican closed that door a few years ago.
I left when I was about 14. I’ve never understood why at 14 I could see it was a load of utter crap and adults couldn’t. Maybe I’m hard to brainwash. You can fool nearly all of the people all of the time. I mean seriously, devils, angels, hell, souls? Only a small child could believe in such nonsense.
Ah, all those conservative, devout catholics are out in force to red thumb me! My personal story must have indeed made them very uncomfortable! How sad!
“the majority of them are good people who knew nothing of what was going on.”
They know now, and are still catholics. I’d be embarrassed and ashamed to be associated with the world’s biggest ever paedo ring.
I agree with ye. I just think the Vatican is trying to deflect onto all catholics instead of taking responsibility for the clergy they teach and manage.
Of course they are, Conor – but that doesn’t make the supporters & financiers of the organisation exempt from blame too. The child abuse has been all out in the open for 15+ years now and sheeple still support the church with full knowledge of their atrocities.
The countdown is on now until the Vatican release a nice touching story involving the New Pope to deflect away from a negative story.
The Vatican is morally bankrupt and the epitome of corruption and it’s track record is an abomination of filth.
If this organisation weren’t flogging Religion the condemnation would be unanimous.
But of course the Faithful will continue to defend the indefensible due to severe indoctrination impairing their sense and reason.
They’;ll have something along shortly,
He’ll kiss a baby or let somebody ride in the pope mobile again or something like that,
Maybe he’ll even invite homeless people to lunch, oh wait he’s done that already.
Meanwhile the Vatican refuse to release documents it has on sexual abuse, refuse to compensate victims, refuse to allow women priests, refuse to do anything meaningful and long term.
I doubt the Vatican are remotely concerned – the UN is about as useful as tits on a bull.
I don’t think the refugees in Syria would agree with you. What about WHO? UNICEF? Maybe you meant to say The Vatican are not remotely concerned.
William, I did say that.
True…
Seems the RCC aren’t the only ones with difficulties apologising.
I would have though me confirming you were correct would do. No?
The RCC acknowledged wrongdoing but it took them years to apologise. Anyway, forget about it. We both agree about the important issues.
Jesus, I was back to you in 6 minutes :( If the Church was that fast at apologising the priest would be apologising to the altar boy as he pulled his cassock back on.
The RCC is a disgusting business.
I notice the Journal covers anything that Pope Francis says that is perceived to be “liberal” but there wasn’t a word posted about his comments on abortion! Suppose it’s only newsworthy when it fits the editorial agenda.
Welcome to the world of media.
A homophobic liberal misogynist?
He is also against ending the war on drugs which is a very conservative stance to make
New pope but still the same church
New? He’s f*****g 77 years old.
He didn’t say new human being he said new pope.
Only those who did wrong should feel shame and i hope they get whats coming to them. No cover ups.
What about those millions of Catholic’s,who still claim it was “just a few bad apples”,even though the rest know the cover up went right to the top???
All Catholic’s who remained within the church are guilty by association.
Unfortunately now you cannot leave officially. Once baptised theres no way to rescind it anymore :(
The baptismal is meaningless,how can you become something you have no understanding of? Did you chose to be baptised? It only counts if you give it credence and recognize the church’s authority.
In Germany one can leave by signing papers in the Town.
I and my wife have both done this.
And its the same in Ireland.
I think he’s trying to say we should all feel shame Ru, but maybe you’re right – those who you are talking about definitely should.
I’ve remained with the church because i cant leave, like Conor said, but i wish i could.
Can you give me more info on that Eamonn. Whereabouts, etc?
What do you mean by “I’ve remained with the church because i cant leave, like Conor said, but i wish i could” ???
You cant officially leave anymore. Once a catholic always a catholic even if you commit heresy in their eyes all they will do is excommunicate ya. Canon law now forbids the rescinding of baptism. The defection process no longer exists :( so we cannot officially leave even if we want to.
I want to leave, do not believe their teachings or rituals and no longer participate in any of their religious processes. But they still consider me a catholic – a lapsed catholic that will towards death come crawling back for salvation to avoid eternal damnation.
Conor,so what? let them consider what they want, doesn’t change the fact as you stated “I want to leave, do not believe their teachings or rituals and no longer participate in any of their religious processes.” This says to me you have already left the church.
If you reject their authority,then their laws,initiations and indoctrination is meaningless. Heresy,excommunication,Canon law,baptism are their words,they have as little or as much importance as you give them.
Yes in the Town Hall.
When I came here here in 1986 one had and still does register in the local Town Hall.
They take various details from you such as your religion.
So i was registered as a catholic and paid a small percentage of my income tax to the catholic church ie the Vatican. This follows a concord made by Germany in Hitlers time with the Vatican 1936 I think.
When you unregister you are no longer a catholic and cannot technically attend or avail of any church services, ie. marriage.
if there’s a shower worse than the black and tans its that shower in the vatican.
I have a theory that most clergy, including the Pope, (king of the peodoephiles) know that all religion is based on complete and utter bullshit. How they must laugh at the fools!
Who made the rule for the Catholic priests not to engage in sexual activity they should have the right to have a relationship after all they are human.with people over the legal age
Caroline, the rule was created by the Catholic Church themselves.
I think Caroline was being sarcastic.
An 11th century Pope I think
I don’t like the term that all Catholic should feel shame that the priest abused vulnerable kids that what hit a nerve.I am a Catholic who goes to mass .plus hate people who use the excuse look what the priest have done to people not all of the priest deserve to be highliged.I did In tend to take comment down but left It
All just words & rhetoric – part of the mere PR campaign that is the new pope.
How about you pay the abuse survivors their due compensation? Now that would be tangible.
There must not be a single priest in Ireland that did not know of priests raping children, and did or said nothing. Theres higher moral judgement in all its glory.
Why should I feel shame? Because priests molested innocent children isn’t my fault,it’s the church who caused this. Here is the bigger issue; we are all sexual beings and we predisposed, use whatever word you choose, to fall in love, marry and start a family. Taking teenagers and turning them into celibate priests is the real issue here. For god sake allow them to be normal and have a life. Stop your crusades against gays,family planning,divorce and whatever else the church does to invade the privacy of your life and in your bedroom.
19 years since the Vatican’s last appearance in front of a UN committee!! Why so long particularly in view of all recent sexual abuse scandals??
Come on now people this pope isn’t half as evil as the last one
1/2 ~ = ~
Seeing as he recently passed whistleblowing legislation which jails anyone for six months and up to eight years, depending on how much the material concerns the ‘fundemental interests’ of the Vatican, I wouldn’t be so sure.
If its June and you walk into your living room and find Santa walking around with your telly, would you think: ‘Its only Santa bringing me a new telly’ or what?
He might be nice to look at and talk the talk, but do you really think he is genuine!
Since when did any big organisation elect a new CEO who was radical and a danger to that organisation’s status quo ? This is the appearance of radicalism. Oil to calm the deep and turbulent waters.
Poster boy for the most evil organisation in the world , rotten to the core!! Tear the Vatican down and free all the kids chained in the basement!
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