French report: 330,000 children victims of church sex abuse

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: AP

PARIS (AP) — Victims of abuse within France’s Catholic Church welcomed a historic turning point Tuesday after a new report estimated that 330,000 children in France were sexually abused over the past 70 years, providing the country’s first accounting of the worldwide phenomenon.

The figure includes abuses committed by some 3,000 priests and an unknown number of other people involved in the church — wrongdoing that Catholic authorities covered up over decades in a “systemic manner,” according to the president of the commission that issued the report, Jean-Marc Sauvé.

The 2,500-page document was issued as the Catholic Church in France, like in other countries, seeks to face up to shameful secrets that were long covered up. Victims welcomed the report as long overdue and the head of the French bishops’ conference asked for forgiveness from them.

The report said the tally of 330,000 victims includes an estimated 216,000 people abused by priests and other clerics, and the rest by church figures such as scout leaders or camp counselors. The estimates are based on a broader research by France’s National Institute of Health and Medical Research into sexual abuse of children in the country.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/europe-france-child-abuse-sexual-abuse-by-clergy-religion-ab5da1ff10f905b1c338a6f3427a1c66

[StarlightGold]

1. "Asked forgiveness"

They can pound sand. Humbly asking forgiveness because you were CAUGHT. How ANY one calls themselves catholic and participates in that church absolutely beggars belief.

[Skittles]

2. passing the plate for pedophiles

[Slammer]

3. this is most of the problem

"Last year, Preynat was convicted of sexually abusing minors and given a five-year prison sentence. He admitted abusing more than 75 boys for decades."

They sentenced the guy to less than 25 days per child that he abused.

And the sad thing is that his punishment was one of the most harsh results that you'll see.

[LastDemocratInSC]

4. This is a long term criminal conspiracy.

[rurallib]

5. anybody know how that would compare to the numbers in the US?

I don't know if I ever heard of a total estimate for abuse in the US

[Crowman2009]

6. This should be the final nail in the coffin to the Catholic Church in France.

It's been a downhill slide since Bastille Day. This will probably send them off the cliff.

[amuse bouche]

7. Horrific and not surprising

Evil is always hiding and seeking a safe haven. Religion has been providing that for centuries

[Mr. Evil]

8. How in the hell is the Catholic Church still allowed to exist?

Centuries of rape, torture, slaughter, theft and of course, rampant child molestation and abuse and all they have to do is pay a settlement. Maybe a few minor jail sentences. I wish France would tell them to get the fuck out! I wish every country would.

[Irish_Dem]

9. Maybe the French need to do what the Irish did, kick the Catholic Church to the curb.

[twodogsbarking]

10. I missed the part where the church confessed and did their penance by helping the victims.