Committee against Torture criticizes Vatican over its response to priest sex abuse scandal - two-thirds of perpetrators are not laicised

The Holy See admits to 3,420 credible allegations of sexual abuse by priests between 2004 and 2013. However, only 848 priests have been laicised. Why are the other 2,572 not laicised?

 

 See: http://www.worldbulletin.net/world/137179/un-vatican-failed-to-act-effectively-on-child-abuse

"The Vatican has failed to provide information requested by the United Nations about the number of children who were sexually abused by priests, the UN Committee against Torture has said.
The committee's comments came on Friday after a preliminary report from the Holy See to the UN Offices in Geneva said there were 3,420 credible allegations of sexual abuse by priests between 2004 and 2013.
A total of 848 priests had been defrocked and 2,572 disciplined, according to the report.
The committee's vice-chairperson Felice Gaer said: "How many victims are there? We do not know the numbers. We know it is very large. We are concerned about it."
There were also cases where victims of abuse had not received compensation, he added.
Vatican 'not consistent'
The committee said it was also concerned that accused clergy had been transferred to other institutions where they remained in contact with minors and others who were vulnerable.
It also noted the Vatican's declaration was not consistent with norms under its own law as well as the UN's Convention against Torture.

Analysis of the Criticism By the United Nations of the Vatican Over Child Abuse - And the Vatican's Reaction to It

For an interesting Analysis of the Criticism By the United Nations of the Vatican Over Child Abuse - And the Vatican's Reaction to It, see http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/keith-porteous-wood/vatican-child-abuse_b_4774147.html

The English Catholic Church and the Sex Abuse Crisis

BETRAYED

The English Catholic Church and the Sex Abuse Crisis

RICHARD SCORER

PUBLICATION DATE: 11^th MARCH 2014

PRICE: £16.99

Since the late 1980s, the Catholic Church has been embroiled in a profound crisis of clerical sexual abuse. In many Western countries, paedophile priests have been exposed and convicted, and the Church’s moral and social standing has suffered deeply.  Scandals in Ireland and America have been extensively documented and much debated. The English Catholic Church has also been shaken to its roots by allegations of abuse; but until now the situation in England has not been properly examined, and nor have its causes and possible solutions been fully considered.  

The author, one of the UK’s leading lawyers in the field, considers the prevalence and causes of abuse, the influence of wider society upon the Church’s response, allegations of cover-ups, campaigns led by victims, battles within the Church, the legal dimensions and the debate around the laicisation (“defrocking”) of individual priests. He attempts to answer the following questions: How serious has the problem been in the English Catholic Church? How effectively has the Church responded? Can it hope to recover from this scandal, and deal credibly and effectively with allegations of abuse that may be directed at it in the future?

The shocking true story of the extent of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in England is exposed here for the first time.

AUTHOR

Richard Scorer is a lawyer who is widely reputed for his work on child abuse and human rights issues. He was described by the Independent on Sunday as ‘one of Britain’s leading specialists in child abuse litigation’ and is rated as a Band 1 ‘Leader in the Field’ in serious injury law by Chambers Legal Guide. Since 1996 Richard has represented hundreds of child abuse victims including the cases involving Father Michael Hill which, in 2001, led directly to sweeping reforms of child protection policy in the Catholic Church.

Richard Scorer is available for interview

For more information please contact

 Suzanne.sangster@bitebackpublishing.com or call 020 7091 1260