Nuns are being used as sex slaves by priests and bishops, admits Pope Francis. This is the first time he has publicly acknowledged the issue; “It’s true,” Francis said. “There are priests and bishops who have done that. I think it is still going on because something does not stop just because you have become aware of it.” He has declared war on stopping the abuse.
He made the comments on a plane back from Abu Dhabi after a reporter asked him what his views were concerning a Vatican monthly magazine article last week about the abuse of nuns in the Catholic Church. His response comes as recognition to nuns who have tried for years to call attention to their plight.
With the #MeToo movement ,the organization representing the world’s Catholic women’s religious orders, the International Union of Superiors General, publicly denounced the “culture of silence and secrecy” that contributed to abuse, and urged nuns to report abuse to law enforcement, going strong, and Francis under pressure for neglecting the victims of child abuse, the nuns’ pleas have gained traction.
He has said that he has suspended some priest who have been involved in the abuse after working towards it for a long time.
He also says that the Vatican is a in the process of shutting down a female religious order because of sexual abuse and corruption. He says that former Pope Benedict dissolved a religious order of women shortly after his election as pontiff in 2005 because slavery had become part of it.
Before he became pope he was the head of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith,Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the Vatican department that investigates sexual abuse. He has also revealed that back then he wanted to investigate the religious order where women were being abused but he was blocked,but didn’t say who blocked him.After he became Pope, Ratzinger reopened the investigation and dissolved the order.
Key bishops around the world have been called to summit later this month at the Vatican to find a unified response on how to protect children from sexual abuse by clergy.
Are our daughters and sisters safe in church?