Survivor Advocates Urge Next Pope to Tackle Clerical Abuse Crisis

As the conclave approaches, survivors of clergy abuse express hope for change under the new leadership of the Catholic Church.

As cardinals prepared to enter the Sistine Chapel for the papal election, advocates for survivors of sexual abuse by clergy made urgent requests for the next pope to confront a long-standing crisis that has plagued the Roman Catholic Church. Several groups, including the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), have arrived in Rome to present their demands.

Peter Isely, a representative of SNAP, emphasized the importance of implementing a zero-tolerance policy against both sexual abusers and those in the Church who have enabled or concealed these abuses. Isely called for the new pope to engage with survivors to find effective solutions. "We want to work with the next pope to put an end to clerical abuse," he articulated at a recent press conference.

In a proactive move, SNAP has created a website tracking the actions of individual cardinals in response to credible allegations of abuse during their tenure, arguing that many in the Church's upper echelons hold culpability for past failures in addressing these issues.

Matteo Bruni, the Vatican's spokesman, confirmed that discussions around the abuse scandal occurred among cardinals leading up to the conclave. He acknowledged the necessity of keeping the issue visible to push for solutions, declaring it a “wound to be kept open."

Additionally, SNAP has outlined a strategic plan for the newly elected pope's first 100 days in office, detailing necessary steps aimed at alleviating the crisis. Their hope is that the next pontiff will prioritize transparency and proactive measures to address and resolve the disturbing legacy of clerical abuse in the Catholic Church.