Child abuse, ‘Roman Catholic ecclesiastical law not working’

Translated from Dutch NOS TV today:

Although the Roman Catholic Church has its own legal system, it is “unsuitable to prosecute suspects of sexual violence“, says Peter Saunders. He was one of the two victims of abuse who took part in the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, set up by Pope Francis.

Last year he and the other victim resigned, partly because they got obstruction from the Vatican. “Ecclesiastical courts do not take the victims into account, and if they come to a conviction, then they impose far too light penalties, eg, a life of repentance“, says Saunders. A prison term is not an option. …

In Pennsylvania, for the first time in history, from outside the church the seriousness and extent of ecclesiastical abuse has been established in a United States American state. It is only one of the fifty states, but it is a beginning. …

Soon, the powerful cardinal George Pell will also have to stand trial in Melbourne. Recently, the Australian was the number three man in the Vatican, and he seemed untouchable. …

Many Chilean clergy are accused of absuse and the covering up of it. Recently, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of five Chilean bishops for an abuse scandal. But one of the protagonists in the cover-up, Cardinal Ezzati, is still at his post as Archbishop of Santiago. He will soon have to testify before a judge about the long-term cover-up of abuse. The parliament is considering annulling his Chilean citizenship, which the Italian born in 2006 received because of his “good works for the country”.