Abuse survivors urge the Vatican to globalize the zero-tolerance policy it approved in the U.S.

Survivors of clergy sexual abuse are calling on the Vatican to extend the zero-tolerance policy approved for the U.S. Catholic Church in 2002 worldwide, emphasizing the need to protect children from predator priests. The proposal, discussed in a meeting between survivors and high-ranking church officials, aims to implement stricter measures against abusive clergy on a global scale, following the U.S. model of permanently removing priests based on even a single act of abuse. However, challenges lie ahead as the Vatican has previously emphasized the need for “proportionality” in sentencing, potentially hindering the universal adoption of the U.S. norms.

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