Vatican Child Abuse Scandal

BBC News
January 16, 2014

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25757218

This is the first time the Holy See is defending itself in public over its sex abuse record

The Vatican is facing tough questions from UN investigators in Geneva on the sexual abuse of thousands of children by Roman Catholic clergy.

Pope Francis has said that dealing with abuse is vital for the Church's credibility, but the Church has been criticised over its inadequate response to some of the allegations.

When did the sex abuse scandals in the Church first come to light?

US priest John Geoghan was jailed for his crimes, and later killed in prison by another inmate

The sexual abuse of children was rarely discussed in public before the 1970s, and it was not until the 1980s that the first cases of molestation by priests came to light, in the United States and Canada.

In the 1990s, revelations began of widespread abuse in Ireland.

In the new century, more cases of abuse have been revealed in more than a dozen countries around the world.

What are the most salient cases of abuse?

Father Marcial Maciel enjoyed the support of Pope John Paul II for many years

Two major reports into Irish allegations of paedophilia in 2009 revealed the shocking extent of abuse, cover-ups and hierarchical failings involving thousands of victims, and stretching back decades.

In one, four Dublin archbishops were found to have in effect turned a blind eye to cases of abuse from 1975 to 2004.

A fresh scandal erupted in March 2010 when it emerged the head of the Irish Catholic Church, Cardinal Sean Brady, was present at meetings in 1975 where children signed vows of silence over complaints against a paedophile priest, Fr Brendan Smyth. This prompted Pope Benedict XVI to apologise to Irish victims.

In the US, the Boston Archdiocese has been worst hit, with the activities of two of its priests, Paul Shanley and John Geoghan, causing public outrage.

Cardinal Bernard Law resigned over the scandal in 2002.

In Mexico, the founder of the Legion of Christ order, Marcial Maciel, long admired by Pope John Paul II, was disciplined by the Vatican in 2006 over the abuse of boys and young men over a period of 30 years.

The Legion insisted his was an isolated case, but seven more priests of the order have been investigated.

The bishop of the Belgian city of Bruges, Roger Vangheluwe, resigned in 2010 after admitting that he had sexually abused a boy for years.

What has the Vatican's response been?

Cardinal Bernard resigned in 2002 over the mishandling of sex abuse cases

After the first scandals emerged, in 2001 the Vatican issued guidelines for senior clergy on how to handle paedophile priests, which stated that all cases should be referred to Rome. Until then, all cases had been handled by the Church in the country concerned.

However, pressure continued to mount on the Church, and after a spate of new cases in 2010 Pope Benedict XVI issued new rules saying bishops should report suspected cases of abuse to local police, if required to do so by law.

Campaigners said the changes did not go far enough, and the now former Pope has himself been accused of suppressing the investigation of paedophile priests, a charge which he recently denied.

What has the new Pope done?

Pope Francis has already taken some steps to deal with the problem, but campaigners want more

After his election last year, Pope Francis appeared to offer new hope to victims, with a call for action on sex abuse in the Church.

He has since made it clear that dealing with the issue is vital for the Church's credibility.

He has strengthened Vatican laws on child abuse, and recently announced the creation of a Vatican committee to fight sexual abuse and help victims.

What do the victims say?

Many campaigners feel the Vatican has been dragging its feet

Victims' groups have responded to almost every move by the Vatican with scepticism.

But they have welcomed the UN hearing in Geneva.

Barbara Blaine, the president of Snap (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), expressed the hope that the hearing would mean that the "truth will be exposed" and Pope Francis would "take action that will actually protect children".

She said that the new Pope would be judged on his actions - specifically whether he was prepared to make it compulsory to turn evidence over to the police, and whether he would punish any bishop who covered up abuse by a priest.