A shocking investigation found that sexual abuse of minors by the Clergy and Catholic priests are over 216,000 between 1950 and 2020. Here’s all about the massive concern that was quieted by a veil of silence.
Catholic priests and pedophilia
A landmark report released on Tuesday revealed the results from two and a half year-long investigations. The probe was launched after widespread abuse over a series of pedophilia prosecutions and claims against church authorities across the world. However, 216,000+ cases are merely the tip of the iceberg. The list of child abuse victims in the last seven decades is about 330,000 when considering those committed by lower members of the Church. The number of victims abused in the last seven decades is truly shocking and scary.
“Until the early 2000s the Catholic Church showed a profound and even cruel indifference towards the victims,” stated Jean-Marc Sauve. Sauve is the president of the committee investigating the matter. Additionally, he also denounced the efforts made to shield the clergy and church officials from claims of pedophilia.
Are apologies enough?
The French Catholic bishops asked the victims of sexual abuse for forgiveness. “The Catholic Church is, after the circle of family and friends. The environment that has the highest prevalence of sexual violence read the report. The 2,500 pages long report revealed how an enormous majority of the abuse victims were pre-adolescent boys from various backgrounds.
Additionally, Monsignor Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, the head of the Bishop’s French conference added that he and his fellow bishops wish “to express to victims their shame at the abuse revealed in the report.” The report uncovered about 2,900 to 3,200 pedophile clergy. However, it is just a ‘minimum estimate’ according to Jean-Marc Sauve. In addition to this, the investigation looked in on “the mechanisms, notably institutional and cultural ones” in the church.