GENEVA/VATICAN CITY
KOSU
Filed by KOSU .
February 5, 2014
The Vatican “has not acknowledged the extent of the crimes committed, has not taken the necessary measures to address cases of child sexual abuse and to protect children, and has adopted policies and practices which have led to the continuation of the abuse by, and the impunity of, the perpetrators,” a U.N. human rights committee charged Wednesday.
The Associated Press adds that in the “devastating report,” the committee condemns the Vatican “for adopting policies that allowed priests to rape and molest tens of thousands of children over decades, and urged it to open its files on the pedophiles and the churchmen who concealed their crimes.”
The Committee on the Rights of the Child “also severely criticized the Holy See for its attitudes toward homosexuality, contraception and abortion and said it should review its policies to ensure children’s rights and their access to health care are guaranteed,” the AP says.
From Rome, NPR’s Sylvia Poggioli tells our Newscast Desk that “the report came after a day-long interrogation of Vatican officials on the Holy See’s handling of the global sex abuse scandals. … The officials were asked why church authorities repeatedly covered up cases of abuse of children by priests. The Vatican insists it is not responsible for abusive priests, saying local bishops are.”
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