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Victims unveil '5 point action plan' after
UK papal visit - September 20, 2010
After Pope’s visit, clergy abuse victims announce papal
benchmarks
They want Benedict's strong words to be followed by even
stronger actions
Group lays out tangible Vatican
measurements to make church safer for all
Victims are urging Catholics to measure the success of
Benedict's words and promises by his completion of the following
5 benchmarks:
- he adopts a global “zero tolerance” policy on child sex
abuse by clergy to stop bishops from moving predator priests to new parishes,
dioceses and countries to stay in ministry,
- he sanctions, reprimands or publicly disciplines at least
a handful of bishops who have transferred known sex offenders,
- he orders bishops around the world to publicly disclose
and post on-line and in church bulletins the names of all sex offending clerics and give evidence of
their crimes to local and international law enforcement officials,
- he urges heads of state and legislative bodies world-wide
to launch thorough investigations of clergy sex crimes and cover ups as the
Irish government has done (i.e., the Murphy report),
- he orders prelates to support, not oppose, secular
legislative reforms, like extending or eliminating the statute of limitations,
so that children will be better protected from sex crimes.
Victims believe that the true meaning of the Pope's visit
will only be known by the actions that are taken (or not taken by him) with
bishops, Catholic laity, lawmakers, law enforcement officers, survivors and
others in the next several months. Strong words, they believe, must be followed
by strong actions that have measurable results.
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