Will the Vatican comply with UN investigation into child abuse?

A few weeks ago, Pope Francis delivered his first ever Christmas Day speech to thousands of followers in St Peter’s Square.

He highlighted the lives ‘shattered’ in Syria, Iraq and the Israel-Palestine conflict and called for an end to ‘further suffering’. But simply wishing for ‘world peace’ is for Miss World contestants; the leader of one of the world’s wealthiest and most influential bodies has the power to make real change.

On January 16, a Vatican delegation is due to appear before the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child at a hearing in Geneva as part of an investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse by Catholic clergy around the world and an alleged system of cover-ups by the Holy See. Pope Francis and the Catholic Church have a clear opportunity to help victims whose lives have been ‘shattered’ by child abuse and help prevent ‘further suffering’, campaigners say.

‘This is the first time the Holy See’s been...

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Showing 1 comment

  • Jonathan Hinck
    commented 2014-01-11 19:34:59 -0600
    Is the Vatican going to withdraw from the UN treaty if “pushed too hard” on accountability? Then they should do so now, and spare the world of their hypocrisy regarding the welfare of children!

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