As cardinals convene in the Sistine Chapel to elect a successor to Pope Francis, advocacy groups representing survivors of sexual abuse by priests have made urgent appeals for the new pontiff to tackle the long-standing crisis affecting the Roman Catholic Church. The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) is at the forefront, advocating for a clear message of zero tolerance towards offenders and a commitment from church leaders to rectify past errors in handling abuse cases.
Peter Isely, a member of SNAP, emphasized that they are ready to collaborate with the next pope to effectively combat clerical abuse. He stated during a news conference that the church needs to acknowledge its failures to truly move forward. In a proactive step, SNAP recently launched a website to monitor cardinals’ actions regarding allegations against priests, underscoring the widespread complicity within church leadership.
The Vatican, through spokesman Matteo Bruni, confirmed that the issues of sexual abuse and its implications were discussed among the cardinals in the lead-up to the conclave. He remarked that the matter remains a critical concern, needing ongoing attention to foster awareness and implement effective solutions.
Alongside their appeals, SNAP has proposed a roadmap for the first 100 days of the next pope's tenure, outlining critical measures to address the crisis head-on. As the world watches, the calls for a decisive and compassionate response to this painful issue resonate strongly within and beyond the Church.
Peter Isely, a member of SNAP, emphasized that they are ready to collaborate with the next pope to effectively combat clerical abuse. He stated during a news conference that the church needs to acknowledge its failures to truly move forward. In a proactive step, SNAP recently launched a website to monitor cardinals’ actions regarding allegations against priests, underscoring the widespread complicity within church leadership.
The Vatican, through spokesman Matteo Bruni, confirmed that the issues of sexual abuse and its implications were discussed among the cardinals in the lead-up to the conclave. He remarked that the matter remains a critical concern, needing ongoing attention to foster awareness and implement effective solutions.
Alongside their appeals, SNAP has proposed a roadmap for the first 100 days of the next pope's tenure, outlining critical measures to address the crisis head-on. As the world watches, the calls for a decisive and compassionate response to this painful issue resonate strongly within and beyond the Church.
