Vatican Commission Calls for Accountability Among Church Leaders Failing to Address Clergy Abuse

 

The Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors has condemned church leaders who fail to act against abusive priests, declaring that these failures represent “a further source of evil” for abuse survivors. The commission's report, released on Tuesday, stressed the urgent need to hold church authorities accountable for inaction or ineffective handling of abuse cases and recommended removing those who fail to uphold these responsibilities.

Established by Pope Francis in 2014, the commission issued its first report amid ongoing criticism of the Catholic Church's approach to sexual abuse. The document highlights the church's deficiencies in ensuring thorough and transparent handling of cases, especially criticizing the Vatican’s central office for managing abuse complaints as slow and secretive. The report’s release follows public censure from Belgium’s King Philippe and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo during Pope Francis’s recent visit to the country.

According to the report, a decade of work by the commission has revealed numerous cases where church leaders’ responses further traumatized victims, underscoring the need for stricter administrative protocols to ensure accountability. It calls for improved transparency, urging greater access to case details for victims and emphasizing that reparative actions go beyond financial compensation to include public acknowledgments and formal apologies.

Cardinal Seán O’Malley, head of the commission, acknowledged the role of journalism in bringing abuse to light, describing the report as part of a “firm commitment” to prevent future abuse. “Nothing we do will ever fully repair what has happened,” O’Malley stated, emphasizing the church’s resolve to enact meaningful change.

Anne Barrett Doyle, co-founder of BishopAccountability, expressed disappointment with the report, asserting that while it has positive elements, it falls short of addressing core issues. “The report overlooks devastating realities: that children are still being abused by clergy and that church law can allow these priests to be reinstated,” she said, critiquing the report’s lack of focus on investigating and prosecuting complicity in abuse cases. Doyle noted that the commission is restricted from auditing specific cases, limiting its ability to perform a comprehensive evaluation.

The report marks a notable step but underscores the long road the church faces in achieving genuine accountability and healing for abuse survivors.