A network of clergy sex abuse survivors on Tuesday announced a database of Catholic cardinals’ records on the handling of such cases in a bid to influence the subsequent papal conclave, while urging Pope Francis in a letter to adopt a worldwide zero-tolerance policy following the U.S. church example.
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests unveiled “Conclave Watch,’’ a database on cardinals’ records on clergy sex abuse that it hopes will put the difficulty at the middle of consideration each time the subsequent pope is chosen.
SNAP board members arrived in Rome three weeks ago as Pope Francis was hospitalized in life-threatening condition, with the prospect of a conclave seemingly near. He returned to the Vatican on Sunday after beating double pneumonia, with doctor’s orders to take it easy for the subsequent two months — putting to rest not less than for now notions of a papal resignation or a funeral that will trigger the method to decide on a successor.
“Many people have asked me … ‘Why now? The pope is sick. Now shouldn’t be the time,’ ’’ Shawn Dougherty, SNAP Board president and a survivor from Pennsylvania, told a news conference. “And we determined if not now, when, and if not us, who?’’
The database was set to go live soon, starting with six cardinals, five of whom were chosen for his or her decision-making roles within the Roman Catholic church on the handling of clergy abuse cases. More can be added.
The initiative vets cardinals who’re considered contenders for the papacy on their records handling sexual abuse cases, including whether or not they were involved in covering up cases, in addition to their acceptance of a zero-tolerance law that SNAP wants Francis to adopt.
SNAP also released a letter to Francis urging him to adopt its zero-tolerance law, drafted with canon and civil lawyers in addition to human rights experts that will remove known offender priests from ministries and hold bishops accountable in cases of coverups.
To date, the one place where there are norms for removing known sexual offenders from the priesthood is the United States, said Peter Isley, of the network’s global policy working group. “The United States is just 6% of the Catholic world. So 94% doesn’t have that,’’ he said.
The group hopes the letter can be delivered to Francis by Juan Carlos Cruz, a Chilean victim of abuse appointed by the pope as a world advocate for survivors, by the top of the week.
SNAP underlined the importance of pushing the difficulty because the pope continues his physical recovery, in light of his announcement in February that he would produce an apostolic exhortation dedicated to children geared toward educating them about their rights. They hope that their definition of zero-tolerance might be truly enshrined.
“We wish him a full recovery because we now have work to do together,’’ Isley said.
