Survivors of clergy abuse are questioning whether Pope Francis did enough to protect victims during his papacy, amid ongoing discussions surrounding his legacy as the Catholic Church prepares for a transition in leadership.
Pope’s Legacy Under Scrutiny as Abuse Survivors Demand Accountability
Pope’s Legacy Under Scrutiny as Abuse Survivors Demand Accountability
As cardinals prepare to elect a new pope, criticism mounts over Pope Francis’ approach to clergy sexual abuse.
In the wake of Pope Francis’ death, victims assert that the Catholic Church continues to shield abusers and evade accountability for past abuses.
The article text:
As cardinals gather in Rome to select the next pope, grave reflections on the legacy of Pope Francis are dominating conversations, specifically regarding his handling of shocking sexual abuse allegations against clergy. Although acknowledging victims and reforming internal Church policies, many survivors feel that significant actions were still lacking.
Alexa MacPherson, a victim of abuse from the age of three by Priest Peter Kanchong, recounts her unsettling experience. "When I was nine-and-a-half, my father caught him trying to rape me," she narrated quietly while in Boston. Despite her trauma occurring long before Francis' papacy, she views the ongoing sexual exploitation of minors within the Church as a still-present emergency that demands addressing.
Historically, as evidenced by a concealed letter dated August 1984 from then-Archbishop Bernard Law, institutional support for abusers, including Kanchong, has been pronounced. Law's letters disclose that the Church prioritized its image over victims’ safety, advocating for minimizing scandal instead of ensuring justice for the MacPherson family.
Reflecting on Francis' term, MacPherson acknowledges a modicum of progress yet expresses disappointment over the persistent culture of secrecy within the Church. "There’s just so much more that the Church and the Vatican and the people in charge can do," she stated, suggesting that true reform requires comprehensive accountability measures.
Despite some measures taken by Francis, including a bishops' conference on abuse in 2019 and revisions to pontifical secrecy laws, critics, including MacPherson’s lawyer, assert that these actions were insufficient. They enable continued concealment, as the Church retains discretion over reporting abuse cases to civil authorities.
MacPherson's sentiment echoes a widespread frustration among survivors as they demand transparency and responsibility from the Church. “We have to litigate in court to get documents; nothing really has changed,” her lawyer remarked regarding the prevailing lack of reform.
As discussions surrounding a successor to Francis gain traction, MacPherson remains skeptical about any potential shifts in policy. “You cannot possibly do any of that until you truly acknowledge those sins, and you hold those people accountable," she emphasized—a sentiment that reverberates among many survivors still seeking recognition and justice.
As the Catholic Church proceeds with its future plans, the unresolved statuses of predators like Kanchong, who remains without formal conviction or defrocking, highlight the ongoing struggle for reform and victim recognition within the Vatican’s corridors.
The article text:
As cardinals gather in Rome to select the next pope, grave reflections on the legacy of Pope Francis are dominating conversations, specifically regarding his handling of shocking sexual abuse allegations against clergy. Although acknowledging victims and reforming internal Church policies, many survivors feel that significant actions were still lacking.
Alexa MacPherson, a victim of abuse from the age of three by Priest Peter Kanchong, recounts her unsettling experience. "When I was nine-and-a-half, my father caught him trying to rape me," she narrated quietly while in Boston. Despite her trauma occurring long before Francis' papacy, she views the ongoing sexual exploitation of minors within the Church as a still-present emergency that demands addressing.
Historically, as evidenced by a concealed letter dated August 1984 from then-Archbishop Bernard Law, institutional support for abusers, including Kanchong, has been pronounced. Law's letters disclose that the Church prioritized its image over victims’ safety, advocating for minimizing scandal instead of ensuring justice for the MacPherson family.
Reflecting on Francis' term, MacPherson acknowledges a modicum of progress yet expresses disappointment over the persistent culture of secrecy within the Church. "There’s just so much more that the Church and the Vatican and the people in charge can do," she stated, suggesting that true reform requires comprehensive accountability measures.
Despite some measures taken by Francis, including a bishops' conference on abuse in 2019 and revisions to pontifical secrecy laws, critics, including MacPherson’s lawyer, assert that these actions were insufficient. They enable continued concealment, as the Church retains discretion over reporting abuse cases to civil authorities.
MacPherson's sentiment echoes a widespread frustration among survivors as they demand transparency and responsibility from the Church. “We have to litigate in court to get documents; nothing really has changed,” her lawyer remarked regarding the prevailing lack of reform.
As discussions surrounding a successor to Francis gain traction, MacPherson remains skeptical about any potential shifts in policy. “You cannot possibly do any of that until you truly acknowledge those sins, and you hold those people accountable," she emphasized—a sentiment that reverberates among many survivors still seeking recognition and justice.
As the Catholic Church proceeds with its future plans, the unresolved statuses of predators like Kanchong, who remains without formal conviction or defrocking, highlight the ongoing struggle for reform and victim recognition within the Vatican’s corridors.
