Un Report Blasts Catholic Church for Policies Allowing Abuse of Children

ABC
February 6, 2014

http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2013/s3939010.htm

[with audio]

TONY EASTLEY: A United Nations committee is calling on the Vatican to immediately remove all known and suspected child abusers from their posts and hand over their files to police.

In a damning report the UN's watchdog for children's rights lambasted the Vatican for implementing policies it said allowed thousands of children worldwide to be abused.

The Catholic Church in turn has accused the UN body of interference and of being out of touch.

Europe correspondent Barbara Miller reports.

BARBARA MILLER: The report by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child pulls no punches.

Committee chairwoman Kirsten Sandberg:

KIRSTEN SANDBERG: The main finding of the committee was that the Holy See has adopted policies and practices which have led to the continuation of the abuse by and the impunity of the perpetrators.

BARBARA MILLER: The committee said the Church should remove immediately from their positions all known or suspected child abusers and hand over any case files to relevant authorities.

It was damning of the practice of moving known abusers from parish to parish, saying this had placed children in many countries at high risk of sexual abuse.

Barbara Blaine is the president of the US-based group SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests:

BARBARA BLAINE: I will confess I am a bit pleasantly surprised. This is what we, as victims, have been saying for decades. And the brave survivors in Australia who have spoken up, this acknowledges what they have been saying. And I believe it also affirms the necessity for the Royal Commission that is taking place in your country today.

BARBARA MILLER: Why are you pleasantly surprised?

BARBARA BLAINE: You know, we have been trying every which way we can to get Church officials to step up and do the right thing, and what we've learned over time is that the only time that they take even the barest of minimum of steps is when they are forced to from external sources.

BARBARA MILLER: But they won't be forced to either. These recommendations are not in any way binding.

BARBARA BLAINE: Well, I understand that the UN does not have any kind of prosecutorial authority, but it is the United Nations. And I believe what's most important is for the secular authorities, for the heads of state of every country in the world should read these recommendations, read this report and take action.

BARBARA MILLER: The Vatican has said it will thoroughly study the report's recommendations but has defended its record on combating sexual abuse.

Archbishop Silvano Tomasi is head of the Holy See's delegation to the United Nations in Geneva.

SILVANO TOMASI: It is very difficult I think to find other institutions or even other states that have done so much specifically for the protection of children.

BARBARA MILLER: Few expected this report to be so damning, but there's little indication so far that its harsh words will result in any action.

This is Barbara Miller reporting for AM.