Victims of clerical sex abuse still face “disturbing” retaliation from Catholic Church leaders for speaking out despite years of efforts to tackle the global scourge, a Vatican commission said Thursday.
In its second annual report, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors set out how local Catholic churches can better help survivors, highlighting “cultural resistance” that hinders action in many countries.
The document was drawn up with the contributions of 40 victims, who shared their personal stories — and who gave what the commission described as “disturbing accounts of retaliation” by Church leaders after they reported their abuse.
“My brother was a seminarian. The bishop told my family that my complaint could affect his ordination,” one recalled.
Another described ho