A paper done by the United Nations yesterday is calling for the Holy See to turn over archives of sexual abuse of its priests and clergy, the South China Morning Post said in a report. The Asian newspaper said the latest stand of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child would be the most scathing position of the Vatican by a world organization.
The UN report said, "The committee is gravely concerned that 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."
The UN Committee said the church under Pope Francis has yet to take action on preventing sexual abuse cases to happen again. It pointed out the Magdalene laundries scandal in Ireland, wherein girls were placed in forced labor.
SCMP said the conditions set by the UN Committee were non-binding and that there is no enforcement mechanism in place. On the other hand, the UN has requested the Vatican to implement its reconmmendations listed in its recent paper and report to the worldwide organization by 2017.
President of the main US victim's group Snap Barbara Blaine said about the paper, "This report gives hope to the hundreds of thousands of deeply wounded and still suffering clergy sex abuse victims across the world. Now it's up to secular officials to follow the UN's lead and step in to safeguard the vulnerable because Catholic officials are either incapable or unwilling to do so."
SCMP said the Vatican responded with a terse statement, saying the recommendations were noted and made a move to criticize some of the doctrinal interference parts of the UN report.
