The Vatican revealed yesterday that some 400 priests were defrocked during two years of the pontificate of now pope emeritus Benedict XVI for child sex abuse crimes, following an explosion in reported cases.
“In 2012 there were around 100, while in 2011 there were around 300. Some were as a result of a disciplinary procedures, others made a request,” Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told AFP.
Scores more were defrocked in the preceding years, after Benedict XVI, the Vatican’s former chief doctrine enforcer, was elected in 2005 to replace John Paul II.
But the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) said these disciplinary measures were not enough.
“The pope must start defrocking clerics who cover up sex crimes, not just clerics who commit them. Until that happens, little will change,” the US-based victim support and campaign group said in a statement.
Benedict XVI, who resigned last year and was replaced by Pope Francis, vowed zero tolerance for offending priests and the Vatican has reported receiving thousands of reports of abuse from local dioceses.
A Vatican delegation earlier this week was pushed for the first time to provide answers to the United Nations over its commitment to stamp out abuse by priests in front of the UN’s child rights committee in Geneva.
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