Sexual abuse leaves emotional scars on its victims that will never fully heal. Discovering the abuser has never been held accountable can make the victim feel insignificant and marginal.
The Catholic Church has been instrumental in covering up the abuse of children by its clergy. And we are continuing to learn about the depth and breadth of the Church’s complicity.
Historical records and reports
Numerous internal documents from diocesan archives detail incidents of abuse dating back decades. Correspondence between U.S. and Roman church officials shows the discussion of allegations and strategies for handling them. This indicates that not only did a defendant’s direct superior know and cover up the abuse, but that the Church has a pattern of protecting the institution over the children.
Some of the key findings from the Church’s documentation include:
1. The practice of reassigning accused priests to different parishes instead of removing them from ministry. This allowed the abuse to continue and placed more children at risk.
2. Church leaders often chose to handle allegations internally rather than involving law enforcement.
3. Some priests were sent for psychological assessment and treatment. Even though the assessments stated the abuse would likely recur, priests were often allowed to continue their pastoral duties.
4. Many dioceses settled abuse claims with financial payouts accompanied by non-disclosure agreements, which legally bound the victims to silence.
The disclosure of these paper trails has had far-reaching effects, including:
- Criminal prosecutions against individual priests and, sometimes, their superiors
- More stringent policies regarding the handling of abuse allegations
- Victim assistance programs established by the Church
- Increased public awareness about the issue and the push for reforms
Despite all these changes within the Catholic Church, there is still a long way to go. There are many victims still out there who haven’t come forward. Even with support systems in place, trauma and shame continue to haunt the survivors. However, change can happen with continued pressure and holding the highest offices within the Church accountable.