Media Statements

A support group for clergy sex abuse victims is writing Pope Francis seeking a meeting to discuss how to stop and prevent current and future child sex crimes and cover ups.  (Copy of letter is below.)

There is no greater example of courageous reform in the history of the Catholic church than St. Francis of Assisi. He lived with and demanded justice for those in our society that have been victimized and destroyed by the powerful.  During his time he stood up an challenged bishops and cardinals and the Pope. 

We’ve long worried about child sex crimes and cover ups by religious order clerics like the Jesuits. Religious orders have often been worse than bishops at hiding predators. 

Many bishops in Latin America have covered up and have denied having abuse in their countries. In Chile, the Fr. Karadima case has been one that has unveiled a secret kept by the Catholic hierarchy and that is repeated in many countries in Latin America. 

It is always hopeful when someone new takes office. We often assume that the new person will be better than the last person, especially in a scandal ridden institution.

An international self-help group for clergy sex abuse victims is raising concerns about three more high-ranking Catholic cardinals who have been publicly named as possible "picks" for the new pope.

Our hearts ache for the all of the thousands of girls who victimized by the priests and nuns who were supposed to be caring for them. This is an enormous betrayal of trust, and such crimes have life-long and damaging effects. 

Kids were hurt and crimes were concealed on Cardinal Rigali's watch in Philadelphia. For that reason, we urge him to recuse himself from voting on the next pope. 

Dozens of deaf men were abused as kids by a priest. As adults, they were betrayed by Cardinal Angelo Sodano and other Catholic officials who ignored their pleas for help. We grieve for these once-helpless children and struggling adults as Sodano prepares to lead a special liturgy tomorrow as the conclave begins.

Here are three documents about the Francesco Zanardi case.

(Zanardi has many more.)

One is reportedly a 2003 letter from then-Bishop Calcagno to then-Cardinal Ratzinger asking what to do about Fr.  Giraudo because of his alleged sexual abuses of Savona children.

Two others are reportedly documents written by Savona church officials about Fr. Giraudo's personal history, and reportedly includes this sentence: "Nulla è trapelato sui giornali e non ci sono denunce in corso," essentially meaning "so far nothing of this case came out in the newspapers and none of the abused have pressed charges."

For more info on the case, please see our EVENTS section.