Pope Francis' Commission Urges Greater Transparency for Abuse Victims

Pope Francis' child protection board has demanded that victims of clergy sexual abuse gain better access to case information and have rights to compensation. The inaugural global assessment by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors highlights transparency issues and the need for financial reparations and public apologies.

Pope Francis' child protection board has delivered a landmark call for enhanced transparency and compensation rights for victims of clergy sexual abuse. The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, in its debut global assessment, issued a collection of findings and recommendations targeting a dozen countries, religious orders, and Vatican offices.

The commission's most pointed criticism directed at the Vatican's sex abuse office, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, emphasized the need for greater transparency. It warned that the slow handling of cases and secrecy have been further traumatizing victims, maintaining distrust among the community, especially survivors.

Meanwhile, the report identified several challenges faced by the church in different regions, such as cultural barriers in Mexico and lack of resources in Papua New Guinea. Pope Francis tasked the commission in 2022 to audit the progress in handling clergy sexual abuse, laying out a directive for continued collaboration and enhanced communication with Vatican authorities.

(With inputs from agencies.)