A Pope Who Rejects Sexual Violence
I know that the Roman Catholic Church has failed historically to prevent and to root out child sexual violence within its own ranks. I am a Jamaican survivor of such abuse by a priest.
Francis spent much of his papacy issuing apologies for clerical sex abuse. His successor must do more.
The 135 cardinal electors must ensure the church’s next leader is committed to a public position of zero tolerance of abuse by any of its members.
Though a 2021 update to canon law declared sexual abuse criminal and not merely a moral offense, it only imposes certain penalties “where the case calls for it.” The next pope must update canon law to adopt a zero-tolerance law given that sexual abuse is a grave crime against the life, dignity and freedom of victims. It must be applied without exception, and in sexual abuse cases, the church must release sufficient information to demonstrate compliance with these rules.
He must establish an independent compliance agency to investigate, document and publicly identify people of authority in the church who contributed — through their negligence or intentional acts — to concealing abusive priests.
This conclave must select a new pope with the commitment — and the record — to show he has never and will never tolerate the abuse of children within the church, nor the secrecy that enabled it.
We need more than apologies; we need change.
Read the full article here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/05/06/francis-catholics-pope-trump-ai-vance/
Denise Buchanan, PhD., Los Angeles
The writer is co-founder of Ending Clergy Abuse, CEO, Faith Has Feet, and a member of the Brave Movement.
