Sex abuse victims list ‘dirty dozen’ papal candidates
Cardinals leave at the end of a vespers celebration in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Clergy sex abuse victims released a “dirty dozen” list of potential papal candidates Wednesday and urged the Catholic Church to “get serious” about protecting children, helping victims and exposing corruption. AP/GREGORIO BORGIA
CHICAGO—Clergy sex abuse victims released a “dirty dozen” list of potential papal candidates Wednesday and urged the Catholic Church to “get serious” about protecting children, helping victims and exposing corruption.
“We want to urge Catholic prelates to stop pretending that the worst is over regarding the clergy sex abuse and cover up crisis,” said David Clohessy, director of the US-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP.
“Tragically, the worst is almost certainly ahead.”
The organization cited a dozen cardinals from the United States, Mexico, Honduras, Italy, Australia, Czech Republic, Canada, Argentina and Ghana accused of protecting pedophile priests and making offensive public statements.
They are all considered to be contenders to succeed Pope Benedict XVI, who was criticized for his handling of the sex abuse scandals that have rocked the church in the United States and Europe.
SNAP also opposes electing any member of the Roman Curia, the administrative branch of the Holy See.
“We feel no current Vatican ‘insider’ has the will to truly ‘clean house’ in the Vatican and elsewhere,'” Clohessy said in a statement.
“Promoting a Curia member would discourage victims, witnesses, whistleblowers and advocates from reporting wrongdoing.”
The blacklist included: Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana; Cardinal Tarsicio Bertone of Italy; Cardinal Dominik Duka of Czech Republic; Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera of Mexico; Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Honduras; Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York; Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington; Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston; Cardinal Angelo Scola of Italy; Cardinal Leonardo Sandri of Argentina; Cardinal George Pell of Australia; and Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Quebec, Canada.
