VATICAN CITY
New Tang Dynasty Television
VATICAN CITY, Feb 05, 2014 (AFP) –
The Vatican said Wednesday that it would study a damning UN report accusing it of failing to stamp out child abuse, but slammed criticism of its religious teachings as “interference”.
“The Holy See takes note of the concluding observations on its reports, which will be submitted to a thorough study and examination… according to international law and practice,” the Vatican said in a statement.
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child accused the Church in its report of falling far short of its stated commitment to stem abuse by priests and lay employees and called on the Vatican to remove all those suspected of raping or molesting children.
The report followed a landmark hearing last month during which members of the committee — made up of 18 independent human rights experts from around the globe — grilled senior Churchmen and repeatedly questioned the Vatican’s resolve.
While agreeing to study the report on abuse, the Vatican reacted strongly to what it slammed as “interference” into Church teachings on abortion and homosexuality, after the UN called on the ancient institution to modernise and amend its attitudes.
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