United Nations Questions Laws that Protect Abusive Priests

We are grateful that U.N. officials continue to pressure politicians to better protect children, especially in institutional settings like churches and particularly the Catholic community.

All too often, secular authorities tread lightly around religious institutions, even when the safety of boys and girls is at stake. All too often, tight bonds between politicians and church figures enable clerics who commit or conceal heinous crimes to escape detection and punishment. All too often, church bureaucrats and lobbyists weaken secular laws designed to prevent abuse.

These disturbing patterns need to be disrupted. The well-being of the young must trump the comfort, convenience and careers of those entrusted to care for them. External pressure from governmental entities is often the best way to do this, especially in institutions like the Catholic Church that are ancient, rigid, secretive and male dominated.

Just five years ago, the Committee on the Rights of the Child issued a blistering report accusing the Vatican of fostering a “code of silence” that “systematically” put the reputation of the Church and offending priests over the protection of child victims. We in SNAP are proud to have been a part of that effort.

Politicians take note: the days of safe, cozy and mutually beneficial relationships that involve overlooking child sex crimes and cover ups in churches are waning.

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)