Leadership of Vatican Women’s Magazine Resign Following Attempts to Discredit Them Over Issue of Sexual Abuse by Clergy
The founder and editorial board of a women’s magazine published by the Vatican have resigned following “a campaign to discredit them” that they say increased after they wrote editorials critical of the sexual abuse of nuns by clergy.
In an era where many have called for an increase in women’s voices within the Catholic Church, it is disappointing that the women in charge of “Women Church World” have felt stifled and silenced by the very institution they sought to help improve.
It is also disappointing that, despite powerful rhetoric from Church officials about the need to combat sexual abuse, those who have pushed the Church to continue working on the issue are leaving feeling ostracized and punished.
We hope that, instead of deterring others from speaking up for fear of getting fired or stifled, the example of these brave women will inspire others who want to see change in the church to speak. Those in the US can start by calling on their state’s attorney general to launch investigations into clergy sex crimes.
CONTACT: Zach Hiner, Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009)
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)