The Catholic Church’s global organization of nuns condemned the church’s handling of sexual assault, advocating for sisters who have been abused or are aware of abuse to report such…
The Catholic Church’s global organization of nuns condemned the church’s handling of sexual assault, advocating for sisters who have been abused or are aware of abuse to report such instances to police and their superiors.
The Union of International Superiors General (UISG), which represents more than 500,000 nuns globally, denounced the “culture of silence and secrecy” surrounding abuse in the church, promising to help sisters who have been abused heal and seek justice by reporting misconduct.
“We stand by those courageous women and men who have reported abuse to the authorities. We condemn those who support the culture of silence and secrecy, often under the guise of ‘protection’ of an institution’s reputation or naming it ‘part of one’s culture,’ UISG said in a statement Friday.
“We advocate for transparent civil and criminal reporting of abuse whether within religious congregations, at the parish or diocesan levels, or in any public arena,” the statement continued.
