For decades, the Catholic church has been plagued by scandal after scandal of sexual abuse of children by priests. Now, Pope Francis has also admitted to the pervasive sexual abuse of nuns by Roman Catholic priests and bishops, some to the point of sexual slavery. Pope Frances announced that, “Pope Benedict had the courage to dissolve a female congregation which was at a certain level, because this slavery of women had entered it – slavery, even to the point of sexual slavery – on the part of clerics or the founder.” According to the Pope, this abuse is ongoing and has been happening for quite some time. “I think it’s still taking place because it’s not as though the moment you become aware of something it goes away.”
Reports of these abhorrent incidences have largely come from churches and congregations outside of the United States, such as France, Africa, Germany, India, and Latin America. And, reports dating back many years indicate that the victim nuns of this heinous abuse were silenced and removed. If the Roman Catholic Church has allowed this culture of sexual abuse and slavery of their nuns to permeate into their organization all over the world, how could it not also be happening in the U.S.? As a law firm dedicated to upholding and seeking justice for those who don’t have the means to speak for themselves, we are following these issues closely: Is this happening in your community? Is this happening at your church? Please contact us if you have any information to share about your local community.
Resources:
- Pope Acknowledges Nuns Were Sexually Abused by Priests and Bishops
- Pope admits clerical abuse of nuns including sexual slavery
- Pope Francis confirms priests’ abuse of nuns included “sexual slavery”
- Amid uproar, Vatican clarifies Pope’s comments on ‘sexual slavery’ of nuns
- AIDS exacerbates sexual exploitation of nuns, reports allege
- Vatican investigating reports of Chilean priests abusing nuns
- Pope Francis meets with U.S. Catholic leaders in Rome amid ongoing sex abuse scandal
- Can the Catholic Church tackle sex abuse on its own?