VATICAN CITY
The Journal (Ireland)
THE VATICAN HAS responded to a report by a United Nations committee which criticised its policies that allowed for systematic and continued abuse of children by its priests.
In a statement this afternoon, the Holy See reiterated its commitment to defending and protecting the rights of children “in line with the principles promoted by the Convention of the Rights of the Child and according to the moral and religious values offered by Catholic doctrine”.
It confirmed that it had taken note of the concluding observations in the report, adding that it will be thoroughly studied and examined.
However, it also said that it “regrets” that some of the observations by the committee on the rights of the child are an attempt to “interfere with Catholic Church teaching on the dignity of the human person and in the exercise of religious freedom”.
The report commented on the Church’s positions on homosexuality, contraception and abortion.
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