Survivors Demand Vatican Global Abuse Policy

Survivors of clergy sexual abuse and advocacy groups are urging the Vatican to extend the 'zero tolerance' policy, currently applied in the U.S., to the global Catholic Church. This policy mandates the permanent removal of any cleric found guilty of a single act of sexual abuse. The call for change is led by Ending Clergy Abuse and supported by organizations like BishopAccountability.org, who emphasize the need for consistent global protection measures. Despite Pope Francis' calls for zero tolerance, critics argue that there has been insufficient action to make this a universal standard due to the Vatican's emphasis on 'proportionality' and cultural differences. Advocates argue that the U.S. policy, established following major abuse scandals, should serve as a benchmark for global safeguarding. However, with key Vatican offices absent from discussions, the proposal's success remains uncertain.