{"id":86,"date":"2025-05-10T13:15:05","date_gmt":"2025-05-10T13:15:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/blog\/?p=86"},"modified":"2025-05-10T13:15:05","modified_gmt":"2025-05-10T13:15:05","slug":"pope-leo-xiv-draws-criticism-praise-for-record-on-clergy-sexual-abuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/?p=86","title":{"rendered":"Pope Leo XIV draws criticism, praise for record on clergy sexual abuse"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Leo XIV: First U.S.-Born Pope Criticized Trump\/Vance on Lack of Compassion for Immigrants\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zcWzbHwFmII?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>As many celebrate\u00a0<a class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/last-pope-u-robert-francis-174351840.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-rapid_p=\"9\" data-v9y=\"1\">Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost<\/a>&#8216;s historic selection as pope, the world&#8217;s largest organization for clergy sexual abuse victims is worried about the pontiff&#8217;s past handling of sexual abuse cases and called on him to take a tougher stance on the issue that has long plagued the Roman Catholic Church.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0<a class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\" href=\"https:\/\/www.snapnetwork.org\/survivors_respond_to_pope_leo_xiv_s_election_with_grave_concern_about_his_record_managing_abuse_cases\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-ylk=\"slk:Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"10\" data-v9y=\"1\">Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests<\/a>\u00a0(SNAP), a network that says it represents more than 25,000 victims and supporters worldwide, released a statement on the day of\u00a0<a class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/conclave-day-2-cardinals-4-065242907.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Pope Leo XIV's selection;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-rapid_p=\"11\" data-v9y=\"1\">Pope Leo XIV&#8217;s selection<\/a>\u00a0expressing &#8220;grave concern&#8221; and urging him to &#8220;enact a truly universal zero tolerance law for sexual abuse and cover-up.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The Chicago-born pontiff was chosen to lead the Vatican on May 8, just one day after the conclave to pick a successor to the late Pope Francis began.\u00a0<a class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/last-pope-u-robert-francis-174351840.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Prevost, 69, was born and raised in Chicago;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-rapid_p=\"12\" data-v9y=\"1\">Prevost, 69, was born and raised in Chicago<\/a>\u00a0but went on to spend most of his career in Peru, first as a missionary and then as a bishop. He is a dual U.S.-Peruvian citizen.<\/p>\n<p>Prevost&#8217;s ascension resurfaced concerns about his record on clergy sexual abuse during his tenure in Chicago and in Peru, including that he failed to do enough to address victims&#8217; allegations.<\/p>\n<h2>Cases in Chicago, Peru spur questions of accountability and transparency<\/h2>\n<p>While Prevost led the Augustinians in Chicago in 2000, a priest whose former ministry years earlier had been restricted over allegations of child abuse, moved into an Augustinian monastery near a Catholic elementary school. Church officials at the time failed to notify the school and,\u00a0<a class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\" href=\"https:\/\/chicago.suntimes.com\/the-watchdogs\/2025\/05\/08\/pope-leo-cardinal-robert-prevost-augustinians-chicago\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-ylk=\"slk:according to the Chicago Sun-Times;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"15\" data-v9y=\"1\">according to the Chicago Sun-Times<\/a>, church records even claimed there was no school nearby.<\/p>\n<p>In 2006, the\u00a0<a class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\" href=\"https:\/\/clergyreport.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov\/abuserlist\/james-m-ray\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-ylk=\"slk:Illinois attorney general;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"16\" data-v9y=\"1\">Illinois attorney general<\/a>\u00a0added the priest, James Ray, to its public list of &#8220;abusive clerics and religious brothers,&#8221; claiming there were 13 reported survivors between 1974 and 1991. The Vatican has denied that Prevost permitted Ray to live at the monastery.<\/p>\n<p>Prevost also faces allegations of inaction in connection with his time in northwestern Peru. While he served as a bishop in Chiclayo in 2022, three woman came forward with allegations that they were sexually abused by two priests beginning in 2007 when they were minors.<\/p>\n<p>The victims said in a public statement that Prevost failed to thoroughly look into the allegations. They said, &#8220;no investigation was carried out, nor were the precautionary measures for the protection of the faithful, boys and girls &#8230; the case was filed and archived,&#8221;\u00a0<a class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncronline.org\/news\/cardinals-former-diocese-denies-claim-clerical-sexual-abuse-cover\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-ylk=\"slk:according to the National Catholic Reporter;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"18\" data-v9y=\"1\">according to the National Catholic Reporter<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Two months before Prevost was elected pope,\u00a0<a class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\" href=\"https:\/\/static1.squarespace.com\/static\/67f051268ff9667a0f3091d2\/t\/67f4da168e3f2740e0f5dca8\/1744099864179\/Prevost_VELM+Complaint_3.25.25.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-ylk=\"slk:SNAP filed a complaint against him;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"19\" data-v9y=\"1\">SNAP filed a complaint against him<\/a>\u00a0with the Vatican, claiming he failed to open an investigation and &#8220;sent inadequate information to Rome.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Civil authorities in Peru closed the case after the statute of limitations had passed. The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, which investigates cases of clergy sexual abuse, closed the case in 2023.<\/p>\n<p>In a public letter, the Diocese of Chiclayo said accusations that the former cardinal &#8220;remained silent in face of the complaints &#8230; is not true.&#8221; The Vatican has also denied any wrongdoing by Prevost.<\/p>\n<h2>Prevost helped bring down abusive Catholic group in South America<\/h2>\n<p>Pedro Salinas, a Peruvian journalist who wrote a bombshell expose on the Sodalitium of Christian Life in 2015, said Prevost played \u201can extremely important role\u201d in the Catholic movement&#8217;s dissolution.<\/p>\n<p>Leaders of the ultra-conservative group founded in Peru had faced widespread allegations of corruption as well as physical, psychological and sexual violence, including against minors.<\/p>\n<p>In January, Prevost and Pope Francis, who had long paid close attention to the case, met with Jose Enrique Escardo, one of the group&#8217;s victims who spoke out against the movement and its abuses. Pope Francis dissolved the movement weeks before he died,\u00a0<a class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vaticannews.va\/en\/vatican-city\/news\/2025-04\/vatican-suppresses-sodality-of-christian-life.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-ylk=\"slk:according to the Vatican News;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"20\" data-v9y=\"1\">according to the Vatican News<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It was a stunning and extremely rare outcome,&#8221;\u00a0<a class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bishop-accountability.org\/2025\/05\/statement-on-pope-leo-xiv\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-ylk=\"slk:said Bishop Accountability;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"21\" data-v9y=\"1\">said Bishop Accountability<\/a>, a victims advocacy group in a statement after Prevost was elected pope. &#8220;Yet punishing abusers isn\u2019t heroic \u2014 it\u2019s moral and decent. We pray we see more of this decisive action by Prevost when he is pope.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to the media on May 8, Bishop Carlos Garc\u00eda Camader, the head of Peru&#8217;s bishops&#8217; conference, praised Prevost&#8217;s work with abuse survivors, saying he &#8220;opened the way here in Peru to listen to the victims, to organize the truth commission&#8221; against the Sodalitium of Christian Life.<\/p>\n<p>In public statements, Prevost has stated firmly that he stands against sex abuse in the church. In the 2019 interview with\u00a0<a class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\" href=\"https:\/\/larepublica.pe\/sociedad\/1480368-prevost-victima-abuso-sexual-sacerdote-denuncialo#.XPR5_7yauKE.twitter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-ylk=\"slk:La Republica;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"23\" data-v9y=\"1\">La Republica<\/a>, he encouraged victims of abuse to come forward and said he supported more transparency from the church.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We reject the cover-up and secrecy, that does a lot of damage, because we have to help the people who have suffered from the bad act,&#8221; he said, later adding, &#8220;On behalf of the Church, we want to tell people that if there was any offence, if they suffered or are victims of the bad actions of a priest to come and denounce it, to act for the good of the Church, of the person and the community.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><em>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:\u00a0<a class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/world\/2025\/05\/09\/pope-leo-xiv-clergy-sexual-abuse\/83531142007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-ylk=\"slk:Pope Leo XIV faces scrutiny over record on clergy sexual abuse;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"24\" data-v9y=\"1\">Pope Leo XIV faces scrutiny over record on clergy sexual abuse<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As many celebrate\u00a0Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost&#8216;s historic selection as pope, the world&#8217;s largest organization for clergy sexual abuse<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":87,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-86","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-world-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=86"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86\/revisions\/88"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/87"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=86"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=86"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=86"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}