Page 6 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - Febrary/March 2020 Edition

6 Pope: Abuse of Nuns Including Sex Slaery

Pope admits clerical

abuse of nuns

including sexual

slavery

BBC NEWS

Pope Francis has admitted that
clerics have sexually abused

nuns, and in one case they were
kept as sex slaves.

He said in that case his predecessor,
Pope Benedict, was forced to shut down an
entire congregation of nuns who were being
abused by priests.
It is thought to be the first time that Pope In a separate case in India last year, a Profile: Pope Francis
Francis has acknowledged the sexual abuse of bishop was arrested over allegations that he
nuns by the clergy. raped a nun 13 times between 2014 and 2016.
He said the Church was attempting to Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who headed Pope Francis, as he became, is the first Latin
address the problem but said it was "still going the diocese in Jalandhar in the northern state of American and the first Jesuit to lead the Roman
on". Punjab, has denied the accusations. Catholic Church.
Last November, the Catholic Church's In Chile, reports of abuse of nuns carried His election as the 266th pope surprised
global organization for nuns denounced the out by priests led the Vatican to launch an analysts who may have been expecting a
"culture of silence and secrecy" that prevented investigation last year. The women were younger man than the 76 year old.
them from speaking out. reportedly removed from the order after At the time of his election he drew broad
The Pope's comments come amid long- highlighting the abuse. support from both Church conservatives and
running cases of sexual abuse of children and Last year, the Associated Press news reformers, being seen as orthodox on sexual
young men by priests at the Church. agency reported cases of abuse in Italy and matters but liberal on social ones.
His supporters liked his "common touch"
Africa.
What did Pope Francis say? and his zealous determination to reform the
Curia (Vatican bureaucracy), root out corruption
What have women in the Church said?
Speaking to reporters while on a historic tour of in the Vatican bank and deal with the horrific
legacy of child sex abuse within the Church.
the Middle East on Tuesday, the pontiff admitted Just days ago the Vatican's women's magazine,
that the Church had an issue, and the roots lay in Women Church World, condemned the abuse, Four years into his papacy, polls suggest
society "seeing women as second class". saying in some cases nuns were forced to abort the Pope enjoys high popularity ratings, among
He said that priests and bishops had priests' children - something Catholicism Catholics and other faiths. He is followed by
abused nuns, but said the Church was aware of forbids. more than 15 million people on Twitter.
the "scandal" and was "working on it", adding The magazine's editor, Lucetta Scaraffia, But his willingness to take on issues
that a number of clerics had been suspended. said Pope Francis's acknowledgement of the head-on has also created a growing number of
"It's a path that we've been on," he said. abuse "can be of some help", but warned that the opponents, both within the Vatican and outside.
"Pope Benedict had the courage to Church needs to act.
dissolve a female congregation which was at a "If the Church continues to close its eyes
certain level, because this slavery of women had to the scandal... the condition of oppression of Who are the Jesuits?
entered it - slavery, even to the point of sexual women in the church will never change," she
slavery - on the part of clerics or the founder." wrote.
Pope Francis said sexual abuse of nuns The magazine said the #MeToo • The Society of Jesus is a male order of the
was an ongoing problem, but happened largely movement meant more women were now Catholic Church, with 19,000 members
in "certain congregations, predominantly new coming forward with their stories. worldwide.
ones". Last year, French website Le Parisien
"I think it's still taking place because it's reported the case of "Christelle" (in French), a • It was established in 16th Century Europe as
not as though the moment you become aware of former nun whose name was changed to a missionary order, and members swear
something it goes away." preserve anonymity. vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
Christelle said she had suffered sexual
Where is the abuse said to have taken abuse at the hands of a priest of her congregation • The order became so powerful that it was
place? in France between 2010 and 2011. suppressed at the end of the 18th Century but
"His gestures became more and more later restored.
The female congregation dissolved in 2005 inappropriate," she said, adding: "But he kept
under Pope Benedict was the Community of St going... until the day he raped me. • Jesuits have a reputation as expert
Jean, which was based in France, Alessandro "He was unable to control himself... he communicators. []
Gisotti of the Vatican press office told CBS had a split personality." []
News.
`In 2013, the Community of St Jean admitted THE ‘X’ ZONE TV CHANNEL
that priests had behaved "in ways that went IS EXCLUSIVELY ON
against chastity" with several women in the
order, according to the French Roman Catholic SIMULTV.COM
newspaper La Croix.