NEW YORK
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
POSTED BY DAVID CLOHESSY ON JULY 15, 2013
Groups urge Pope to open abuse files
UN panel pushes Vatican for information
SNAP & CCR call request “unprecedented”
Victims and advocates are encouraged by the move
Two organizations charge that Catholic officials violate treaty
What
At a sidewalk news conference, surrounded by signs and childhood photos, victims and advocates will
–applaud a United Nations committee for demanding detailed information from the Vatican about clergy sex crimes and cover ups across the globe,
–prod Pope Francis to provide all of the information promptly,
–urge other secular authorities to launch similar efforts to hold Catholic officials responsible for the church’s ongoing refusal to stop sexual violence by clergy, and
–beg anyone who has seen, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes or cover ups to report to independent sources (police, prosecutors, NGOs).
They will also explain why they believe international bodies should do more to investigate the crisis of sexual violence within the Catholic church and will discuss other recent efforts to do so.
When
Tuesday, July 16 at 1:00 p.m.
Where
Outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 460 Madison Ave, New York
Who
Leaders of two non-profit groups – the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP)
Why
Last week, in an unprecedented move, the Geneva-based United Nations’ Committee on the Rights of the Child released a detailed, four page list of information it wants Vatican officials to disclose about clergy sex crimes and cover ups and how Catholic officials are dealing with them. The panel set a November 1 deadline. In January, in a session that will be telecast live, Vatican staffers are expected to meet in person with the Committee to answer further questions.
The panel is charged with overseeing the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, a treaty signed by almost every nation on earth. The Convention is a “legally binding international instrument” that “incorporate[s] the full range of human rights—civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights” for children (http://www.unicef.org/crc/).
Despite ratifying the Convention in 1990, the Vatican has largely ignored its reporting requirements and is violating its principle tenets, CCR and SNAP charge.
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