Vatican Abuse Panel Rebukes Church Leaders Over Slow Victim Support

The Vatican’s child protection commission sharply criticised senior Catholic leaders in its annual report on Thursday, saying victims of clergy sex abuse are not getting timely help and safeguarding reforms remain uneven worldwide.
The 103-page review faults Church authorities for failing to tell victims how their cases are handled or whether negligent bishops are punished. It says some of the commission’s own requests for information went unanswered, noting Italy’s bishops returned surveys from only 81 of 226 dioceses, while South Korea had full participation.
Assessing efforts in 22 countries and the Dicastery for Evangelization, the report says the Vatican department has one official dedicated to safeguarding and unclear case-handling lines that can cause delays. Commission member Maud de Boer-Buquicchio said a lack of funding is a «reality everywhere.»
Created in 2014 under the late Pope Francis, the commission issued its first annual report last year. It now urges far greater transparency when bishops are removed over abuse or cover-ups, saying the Vatican’s practice of citing resignations without reasons undermines accountability. Pope Leo, elected in May, has met members and named a new president, but survivors continue to press for tougher, universal enforcement.