U.N. Panel Assails Vatican Over Sexual Abuse by Priests

February 2014
The New York Times
FEB. 5, 2014

GENEVA — A sharply critical United Nations panel accused the Vatican on Wednesday of putting its reputation and interests above those of children who had been sexually abused by priests. It called on the Vatican to immediately remove all known or suspected molesters from their posts and report them to civil authorities.

“The Holy See has not acknowledged the extent of the crimes committed, has not taken the necessary measures to address cases of child sexual abuse and to protect children, and has adopted policies and practices which have led to the continuation of the abuse by and the impunity of the perpetrators,” said the panel, the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

It demanded that the Vatican open its archives to identify abusers and that it hold accountable those who had concealed abuse and knowingly allowed abusers continued contact with children.

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Last modified 

February 7, 2014