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U.N. to Vatican: Get tough on child abusers

U.N. to Vatican: Kick out child abusers

In an unprecedented report, a United Nations committee slammed the Vatican's handling of child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church and accused the church of protecting itself rather than the victims. FULL STORY

U.N. to Vatican: Get tough on child abusers

A United Nations committee slams the Vatican's handling of child sexual abuse, and accuses it of putting the church before victims. FULL STORY

Vatican quizzed by U.N.
U.N. committee grills Vatican officials
Vatican sets up abuse commission
Kick out those who sexually abuse children, UN panel tells Vatican

By Mariano Castillo and Richard Allen Greene, CNN

February 5, 2014 -- Updated 1535 GMT (2335 HKT)

People gather during the end of the Solemnity of Christ the King in St. Peter's square on November 24, 2013 in Vatican City.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- A U.N. committee accuses the Vatican of protecting itself over victims of abuse
- The church has used cover-ups to protect its clergy, the report alleges
- The U.N. calls for the Vatican to create a system for monitoring children's rights
- It asks the church to boot all known or suspected abusers
(CNN) -- In an unprecedented report, a United Nations committee slammed the Vatican's handling of child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church and accused the church of protecting itself rather than the victims.

The Vatican should establish an "independent mechanism for monitoring children's rights" to investigate complaints and work with law enforcement, according to the report, which was released Wednesday.

It calls for the church to immediately remove all known or suspected abusers from its ranks.

The report follows a hearing last month where Vatican officials were grilled over the church's handling of child abuse allegations.

The Vatican, as a country, is a signatory of the U.N. Convention of the Rights of the Child, and it was the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child that published the report.

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Clerics have been involved in the sexual abuse of "tens of thousands" of children, the report says, and the United Nations is concerned about how the Vatican has handled the allegations.

"The Committee is gravely concerned that the Holy See has not acknowledged the extent of the crimes committed, has not taken the necessary measures to address cases of child sexual abuse and protect children, and has adopted policies and practices which has led to the continuation of the abuse by and the impunity of the perpetrators," the report states.

The Vatican on Wednesday said it will study the report and reiterated its "commitment to defending and protecting the rights of the child."

During questioning last month, a Vatican official defended the church, but said it was open to any suggestions on protecting children's rights.

"There is no excuse for any form of sexual violence or exploitation of children. Such crimes can never be justified, whether committed in the home, in schools, in community and sports programs, in religious organizations and structures. This is the longstanding policy of the Holy See," said Monsignor Silvano Tomasi, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

The report accuses the Vatican of transferring child sexual abusers from one parish to another in an attempt to cover up crimes, placing children at high risk for abuse.

"The Holy See has consistently placed the preservation of the reputation of the Church and the protection of the perpetrators above children's best interests," the report states.

Closed-door proceedings have allowed a majority of abusers to avoid criminal proceedings, the report says. A "code of silence" within the clergy ensures that many cases of child sexual abuse are not reported to law enforcement, according to the report.

Last month, the Vatican acknowledged that close to 400 priests left the priesthood in 2011 and 2012 because of accusations that they had sexually abused children.

Since taking the helm of the Roman Catholic Church in March, Pope Francis has told a senior Vatican official to carry out "due proceedings against the guilty" in sexual abuse cases.

The report also called on the Vatican to make it mandatory to report all cases of suspected child abuse to law enforcement.

The report rejected a Vatican argument that it, the Holy See, is only responsible for people who live in the tiny Vatican city-state. The U.N. says the Vatican has supreme power over individuals and institutions under its authority.

One advocacy group, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said the report is evidence that Vatican claims of reform are deceptive.

It is "utterly tragic" that a body like the U.N. must tell the church to kick out abusers, the group said.

"That is, of course, common sense and common decency," SNAP said in a statement. "That the church hierarchy must be told this is damning."

READ: U.N. committee on sexual abuse grills Vatican officials

READ: Vatican setting up commission against sexual abuse of minors

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