ROME — After an unprecedented four-day summit, Pope Francis ended the gathering, calling sexual abuse of children at the hands of Priests, “Abominable crimes that must be erased from the face of the earth.”
Now, some survivors of abuse say the Pope’s words aren’t enough.
During the summit, Pope Francis called Priests and other Catholics who abuse children, “Tools of Satan” and Pope Francis called for an ‘all-out war’ on the abuse of children.
The Vatican says the Pope will issue a new law to protect children. He will also create a task force and handbook to help those Bishops with less experience to deal with abuse claims.
Some survivors and advocates say the Pope’s words are just bullet points-promises with no concrete action.
“So we are waiting decades for some reform, and they’re saying a handbook is what their reform will be,” said Denise Buchanan, a Survivor with ECA Ending Clerical Abuse. “It’s like, no. That’s not enough. We were raped, the priests are still in the ministry. The priests are still out there.”
Victims also say they’re more cautious about the mere ‘uptick’ in language about combating abuse and they want more action like sanctions and zero tolerance.
Church leaders say the concrete work of this summit has just begun.
