NOS News • yesterday, 17:21 Victims organization accuses Pope of covering up abuse Share this article The American victims' organization SNAP accuses Pope Leo XIV of covering up abuse within the Catholic Church in the past. The victims' organization now calls on the new pope to take decisive action against abuse within the church in his first hundred days.
The organization shares a letter that SNAP wrote to then-Pope Francis in March, in which Robert Prevost is named as one of six cardinals who either facilitated or concealed sexual abuse. They asked the then-Pope to investigate this.
Accusations One of the accusations against Prevost is that as prior general in the early 2000s he allowed a priest accused of child abuse to live near a school. The priest had been placed under several restrictions by the church and was not allowed to be alone near minors.
Despite this, Prevost allowed the priest to move in near the school, putting the safety of the children at risk, according to SNAP.
In addition, the organization accuses Prevost of not following procedures when it comes to investigating reports of abuse during his time in Peru. Several women complained about this in 2022. Prevost allegedly did not conduct a preliminary investigation and did not send sufficient information to the Vatican. He also allegedly did not inform the authorities.
In 2023, the diocese in question reported that Prevost had opened an investigation, ordered the priest to cease his ministry and sent the investigation results to Rome. The case was then closed in consultation with the authorities. The case has since been reopened.
First hundred days “Many who voted in the conclave actively protected abusers, and many who will be appointed to the curia under this papacy bear similar stains,” the organization wrote. That is why SNAP will continue to investigate the cardinals now that the conclave has ended.
The organization is asking Pope Leo XIV, among other things, to establish an independent Truth Commission, to include a zero-tolerance law in canon law and to establish a church-funded reparations fund for victims.
SNAP points out to the church leader the "seriousness of the role" he is taking on. His predecessor promised some time ago that he would write a papal letter for the minor victims of abuse within the church. That did not happen. "Now that task rests on you," the organization writes.
The Vatican has not yet responded to the accusations against the new pope, as far as is known.
