Vatican Answer Questions about Priest and Child Abuse

By Tom Zizka
My Fox Houston
January 18, 2014

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/story/24487114/2014/01/17/vatican-answer-questions-about-priest-and-child-abuse

HOUSTON (FOX 26) -

For the first time, the Vatican is publicly answering questions about its troubled history with priests committing sexual abuse and revealing some startling statistics.

A United Nations committee on protecting children called the Vatican to testify.

Documents show Pope Benedict XVI defrocked 400 priests in the year before he stepped down.

The church says there is no excuse for such violation of children, but victims groups say it's only a first step.

Amy Smith, of the Houston chapter of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, says, "It's not numbers and statistics that will protect kids: It's the decisive action that would entail not just releasing statistics but the names and whereabouts of those accused predator priests."

Pope Francis has also announced he will create a new committee focused on protecting children from abusive priests and helping victims who have already been abused.