Pope Francis Sounds Battle Cry Against Abuse, While Victims Unconvinced

Tags: Currents Catholic Education, Family, Pope Francis, World News

Currents News Staff

Results of the Summit are a new law in Vatican City State on child protection, the creation of task forces to help bishops combat sexual abuse, and a new Motu Proprio coming soon.

At the end of the Summit on Sexual Abuse, Pope Francis let out a battle cry against the abuse of minors, but victims are questioning the implementation of his words.

Pope Francis ended the summit telling bishops eight guidelines he said the Vatican’s Commission for the Protection of Minors will carry out immediately.

“I make a heartfelt appeal for an all-out battle against the abuse of minors both sexually and in other areas. These parameters serve as rules and not simply indications. No abuse should ever be covered up, as was often the case in the past, or not taken seriously sufficiently,” said Francis.

The Pope also wants to implement a better selection of potential priests and ensure they don’t have criminal addictions, including pornography. He also asked for accompaniment and listening to those who have been abused.

Yet, victims in Rome are not so convinced. They’ve presented their own 21 points they want Pope Francis to implement instead.

“Number 18: We need to know the current whereabouts of guilty clergy and how they’re being monitored,” said Anne Barrett Doyle, the Co-Director of Bishop Accountability.

“These 21 points are directed to Pope Francis. He has sent his bishops back home saying I’ve got your back. So, there’s no sense in us ever talking to our bishops until Pope Francis acts and tells his bishops these 21 points are the law of the land,” said Tim Law, the President of Ending Clergy Abuse.

Their points are looking for major changes to canon law and the implementation of zero-tolerance on every level.

Results of the Summit are a new law in Vatican City State on child protection and the creation of task forces to help bishops around the world combat sexual abuse in their own countries.

Additionally, Summit moderator, Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, also announced that in addition to “Come una madre amorevole,” Pope Francis will issue another Motu Proprio on the topic of protection of minors and vulnerable people.

Even this morning, the Vatican held a follow up meeting with organizers. They say concrete outcomes from the Summit need to be discussed in further detail and implemented at local levels and more importantly that this is only the beginning.