Daily Mail
June 22, 2011
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2005946/Vatican-pledges-provide-UN-report-treatment-children--14-years-late.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
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| Delayed: Archbishop Silvano Tomasi said the report into the Vatican's treatment of children will be released in the autumn |
A report into the Vatican's treatment of children will be presented to the United Nations this autumn - 14 years later than originally planned.
The Holy See was supposed to submit a progress report on the Rights of the Child in 1997, but never did so nor explained why.
Its Geneva envoy Archbishop Silvano Tomasi has now said the report will be published in September or October.
But it is unclear whether it will explain the Vatican's role in the cover-up of child abuse committed by Catholic clergy.
It comes in the same week it was revealed Catholics bishops will be given information on the best ways to combat child sex abuse in the church.
Archbishop Tomasi, who told reporters last year the report's release was imminent, said: 'From what I'm able to say it's that in September or October it will be presented.
'Imminent, in the tradition of the Church, it's a very long time.'
It is not clear whether the report will explain the Vatican's role covering up child abuse committed by Catholic clergy.
Roy Brown, of the International Humanist and Ethical Union, a secular group that frequently criticizes the Vatican at the UN, said: 'We've been waiting for this report for a very long time.
'It will be interesting to see if they come clean on this in September.'
Archbishop Tomasi also said today that he welcomed Ireland's recent decision to investigate allegations of child abuse at Catholic-run institutions in the country.
Earlier this month the UN Committee against Torture urged the Irish government to investigate claims that women and girls sent to work in Catholic laundries were abused through much of the 20th century.
It made a similar recommendation for boys' institutions.
'In this kind of effort, whatever practical decision is necessary I hope and I assume will be taken,' Tomasi said.
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| The Vatican: A report into the Vatican's treatment of children will be presented to the United Nations this autumn - 14 years later than originally planned |
The Vatican: A report into the Vatican's treatment of children will be presented to the United Nations this autumn - 14 years later than originally planned
The publication date comes days after the Vatican said it was working to give bishops information on the best ways to combat clergy sex abuse.
On Saturday it said it would be teaming up with the Jesuit university in Rome to host a major symposium on abuse and launch an Internet learning center for follow-up guidance.
The convention, in February 2012, will see experts in psychiatry, church law, sociology and child protection visit the Pontifical Gregorian University for three days of meetings and workshops with 200 bishops and religious superiors.
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