Vatican Criticized for Slow Response to Clergy Abuse Victims

The Vatican’s child protection commission sharply criticized senior Catholic leaders in its annual report on Thursday, citing delays in helping victims of clergy sexual abuse and implementing global safeguarding measures.

For decades, the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church has faced scandals worldwide involving abuse and cover-ups, undermining its credibility and resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements.

The commission’s report faulted church leadership for failing to provide victims with updates on how their abuse reports were handled and whether negligent bishops faced sanctions. It also noted that the commission’s requests for information on safeguarding protocols were often ignored, and that the Italian Church had failed to provide complete details.

“In many cases, victims/survivors report that the church has responded with empty settlements, performative gestures, and a persistent refusal to engage with victims/survivors in good faith,” the report said.

Created by Pope Francis in 2014, the Vatican commission has faced internal turmoil, including multiple resignations. It issued its first annual report last year. Pope Leo XIV, elected in May to succeed Francis, has met with commission members several times and appointed Archbishop Thibault Verny of France as the new president.

Spanning 103 pages, the new report for 2024 is the most detailed yet, criticizing church leadership without naming individuals. While it focuses on reparations for abuse victims, it also evaluates safeguarding efforts in 22 countries and one senior Vatican department.

The report highlights shortcomings in the Dicastery for Evangelization, which oversees most developing countries. It noted that only one official handles safeguarding issues there, and unclear responsibilities among Vatican departments can cause delays in investigations.

Italy, a key Catholic stronghold, was singled out for poor cooperation: only 81 of 226 dioceses responded to the commission’s safeguarding questionnaire. By contrast, South Korea had full participation.

The report also criticized the Vatican for a lack of transparency regarding the removal of bishops connected to abuse or cover-ups. Typically, only the pope’s acceptance of a resignation is announced, without explanation.

“The lack of accountability for church leaders was a frequent issue raised by victims/survivors,” the report said. “The commission emphasizes the importance of publicly communicating the reasons for resignation and/or removal when the decision relates to abuse or negligence.”

Finally, the commission noted that large parts of Central and South America, Africa, and Asia still lack sufficient resources for abuse survivors, highlighting global disparities in the Church’s protective measures.