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Will Francis Address Sex Abuse Scandal During Visit to East Timor or Stay Silent?


Pope Francis Urged to Address Child Sexual Abuse in East Timor

In 2002, Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo, Nobel Peace Prize winner and former head of East Timor’s Catholic Church, abruptly resigned amidst allegations of sexually abusing young boys over a 20-year period. Now, influential non-profit organisation BishopAccountability.org is calling on Pope Francis to address child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church during his upcoming visit to East Timor.

The request was made to Cardinal Sean O’Malley, one of the United States’ most significant archdioceses, to persuade the Pope to speak out against sexual abuse during his trip. This comes after Belo was secretly sanctioned by the Vatican from having contact with children following the allegations, which were eventually made public and acknowledged in 2022.

Despite the allegations, Belo still enjoys popularity in East Timor, with state officials such as President José Ramos-Horta publicly praising him and welcoming him back to the country. The church in East Timor has largely downplayed or doubted the claims against Belo and others accused of abuse.

Pope Francis’ upcoming trip to East Timor, the most Catholic country in the world outside the Vatican, will be his first to the country. While the Vatican has not yet commented on whether he will meet with victims of abuse or address the issue directly, the calls for action are growing louder.

Anne Barrett Doyle of Bishop Accountability explains that the societal factors in Asia, combined with the revered status of bishops, contribute to the lack of outrage over such cases in East Timor. She emphasizes the power that bishops hold in developing countries where the church is dominant.

As the world awaits Pope Francis’ visit to East Timor, the spotlight remains on the need for accountability and transparency in addressing child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church.

Source
Photo credit www.euronews.com

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