CANADA
LifeSite
OTTAWA, September 26, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - On Thursday, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops organization (CCCB) released its report by a task force appointed two years ago by a committee to review a 1992 report on the problem of sexual abuse by priests. The 1992 report, which was never adopted as formal policy, was the result of extensive research by an ad hoc committee appointed in 1989.
The latest report, clearly indicating that Canada’s bishops have badly dropped the ball on the abuse crisis, says the Church in Canada must get tougher on sexual predator priests and become more open, compassionate and accountable to abuse victims. In their Church publications Canadian Catholics have often been told since the 1992 report that the Church in Canada had the problem under control and that Canada’s bishops were well ahead of the Church in the US on the same issue.
The task force conducted interviews with victims of clergy abuse. Its report found "Their [victims'] perception is that the church's actions and the measures it implements are aimed more at preserving the financial and pastoral integrity of the institution, protecting priests, even known abusers, and the systematic challenging of victims, rather than their protection.” These victims, the report continues, “were especially critical of the legal relentlessness of some dioceses toward victims seeking reparation" and that “There was also a strong perception that the bishop is not accountable to anyone”.