The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors’ latest edition of its annual report regarding institutional reform, reparation, justice, and listening to abuse victims had several primary findings, including: abuse survivors and victims are calling for greater accountability and a clearer canonical process for removal or resignation of Church leaders negligence and cover-up.
The commission states in the summary report of the 103-page document that its findings will be shared with Pope Leo XIV, victims and survivors, local Churches, and all the faithful.
A main observation the commission highlighted in the report is: “the importance of a streamlined protocol for the resignation and/or removal of Church leaders or personnel in cases of abuse or negligence.”
The findings in the pilot Annual report and further studies on reparations, “the Commission emphasizes the importance of publicly communicating the reasons for resignation and/or removal, when the decision is related to cases of abuse or negligence,” the summary report continues. “Such a protocol, and any related communication, would maintain due regard for principles related to privacy and the presumption of innocence. ” The commission’s website defined the reparation area of study as relating to efforts to accompany and help victims heal through psychological support, active engagement, and clear communication.
The commission also underscores in the full-length document that victims and survivors frequently raised the issue of “the lack of accountability for Church leaders” and stressed “the urgent need for bishops and major superiors to be held accountable for negligence and cover-up.”
Victims and survivors stressed that they must have access to information about their case, and that access is as a part of their healing journeys, the commission states.
The document relates that it has previously underscored the need for access to information and “continues to highlight this concern in its recommendations to the local Churches, which have primary responsibility for communicating updates to individual victims/survivors.”
Victims and survivors also strongly called for “the Church to acknowledge its mistakes in response to the scourge of abuse,” the commission continues.
“The Church itself is in need of healing, and by acknowledging past harm and embracing humility, it can restore trust and integrity,” a victim/survivor said in the report.
The commission later stresses that victims and survivors consistently expressed concern regarding proper management of perpetrators.
“Many victims/survivors testified to the tendency in Church communities, especially among the clergy, to refer to abuse only as a sin, rather than a crime,” the commission states. “Victims/survivors made it clear that they should not have to live in uncertainty about whether perpetrators are truly being held accountable. This especially includes the practice of transferring perpetrators to other dioceses.”
This poses a risk for further abuse and can be “a source of obstruction of justice,” the commission notes. The commission recommends “the development of robust protocols for handling perpetrators.”
The commission’s summary report states that other key findings include: that apostolic nuncios have an important role in journeying with local churches; that creating a network of Catholic university research centers specializing in human rights, abuse prevention, and safeguarding is valuable; and that the Church must further address areas such as financial support, communications related to private and public apologies, and spiritual and psychotherapeutic support for victims.
The report adds that the Commission observes “the Church’s ability to promote greater transparency and accountability by leveraging its strong tradition of periodic reporting to include safeguarding policies and implementation.”
The full report can be read here.
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