Pope Francis starts Catholic Church’s “World Youth Day” summit by meeting sexual abuse survivors
Pope Francis starts Catholic Church's "World Youth Day" summit by meeting sexual abuse survivors CBS News
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Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon, Portugal — Pope Francis is in Portugal this week for what’s been called the “Catholic Woodstock” — the church’s “World Youth Day” festival. Hundreds of thousands of young people are taking part, and while the festival is a celebration, the pontiff started his visit by confronting the dark legacy of clergy sexual abuse in Portugal.
Pope Francis Addresses Clergy Sexual Abuse
Francis wasted no time in addressing the biggest stain on today’s Catholic Church, meeting with sex abuse survivors behind closed doors on the first day of the summit.
Pope Francis Confronts the Scandal
Arriving in Lisbon for the international celebration of faith, the pope quickly addressed the elephant in the room: A report issued earlier this year saying that nearly 5,000 minors had been sexually abused by Portuguese clergy since the 1950s.
Call for Ongoing Purification and Support for Victims
Addressing a group of bishops, Francis blasted them for the “scandals that have marred” the church, and called for “ongoing purification,” demanding that victims be “accepted and listened to.”
World Youth Day Festival
It’s a painful topic, and one that most of the young Catholics from around the world didn’t come to Portugal to deal with. For the vast majority of the World Youth Day attendees, the summit is a festival — and Pope Francis is their rockstar.
Stories of Hardship
CBS News met a group of kids from Norwalk, California — members of the St. John of God Parish from the Los Angeles archdiocese. Each of them had to raise $3,500 to get to World Youth Day. Some have parents without legal residency documents in the U.S., and all of them have dealt with hardships.
Pope Francis’ Support for Migrants
Francis is one of the world’s most outspoken champions of migrants. Like George and his friends, the leader of the Catholic Church is also Latino.
The Future of the Church
World Youth Day is a snapshot of the Church’s future, “whether they are from Latin countries, from Asian countries, from African countries,” the boys’ parish priest, Father Raymond Decipeda, told CBS News. “So, we’re just blessed that this is the face of the church.”
Conclusion
The jubilation from so many young Catholics in Portugal this week will be welcomed by many, as the church continues grappling with its legacy on youth, and how to move forward. The Holy See said the pontiff met Wednesday night with 13 abuse survivors for more than an hour at the Vatican’s embassy in Lisbon. World Youth Day events run through Sunday, and as many as 1 million Catholics were expected to take part.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 5: Gender Equality – Addressing clergy sexual abuse, which often involves abuse of women and girls.
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – Addressing the abuse of power within the Catholic Church and the need for justice and support for survivors.
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – Addressing the need for accountability, transparency, and reform within the Catholic Church.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
- Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
- Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator for Target 5.2: Number of reported cases of violence against women and girls by clergy members.
- Indicator for Target 10.2: Percentage of survivors of clergy sexual abuse who receive support and access to justice.
- Indicator for Target 16.6: Number of reforms implemented within the Catholic Church to address clergy sexual abuse and ensure accountability.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. | Number of reported cases of violence against women and girls by clergy members. |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status. | Percentage of survivors of clergy sexual abuse who receive support and access to justice. |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels. | Number of reforms implemented within the Catholic Church to address clergy sexual abuse and ensure accountability. |
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Source: cbsnews.com
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