Survivors of clergy sex abuse want more to be done

WCVB
September 27, 2015

http://www.wcvb.com/news/survivors-of-clergy-sex-abuse-want-more-to-be-done/35515824

BOSTON —Some victims of clergy sex abuse feel the Pope’s word fell short.

Pope Francis met with survivors and members related to survivors of clerical sex abuse and has promised to hold accountable those responsible.

The Rev. Federico Lombardi says the three women and two men met with the pope for a half hour at the St. Charles Borromeo seminary Sunday. Cardinal Sean O'Malley, Archbishop of Boston, accompanied the group.

Lombardi says the pope prayed with the survivors, listened to their stories and expressed his closeness in their suffering and his "pain and shame" in the case of those abused by priests.

But some survivors believe the Pope is not fully addressing the issue.

“When a child is abused by a priest, it ruins their spirituality,” said Phil Saviano, a victim’s advocate of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP). Saviano was abused by a priest when he was 12 years old.

Speaking to U.S. bishops, Francis said sexual abuse can no longer be kept a secret. He says he promised to "zealously" protect young people and that "all those responsible are held accountable."

Saviano says Pope Francis should have met exclusively with victims of clergy sexual abuse, not teachers or family members.

Francis has decided to create a new Vatican tribunal to prosecute bishops who failed to protect their flock by covering up for priests rather than reporting them to police.

“I think he is sidestepping the issue and he is dragging his feet.” Saviano says the pontifical committee sounds great, but nothing yet has been done.