An UN committee has condemned the Vatican for protecting pedophile priests accused of sex abuse at the expense of victims.
Reports say that the Thursday allegations have been the worst criticism of Vatican's mismanagement of child abuse cases so far.
Although the Vatican tried to make a diplomatic response, saying priests are citizens of their countries and therefore.this.is a law enforcement issue rather than one that the Vatican has jurisdiction over.
Many in the community feel that there is a special place for the Holy See in the International arena and the Vatican needs to make a stand on abuse of children, which goes against Biblical values and Christ's.teachings.
Monsignor Charles Scicluna, former Vatican sex crimes prosecutor addressed the UN panel saying, "The Holy See gets it." He added, "Let's not say too late or not. But there are certain things that need to be done differently," The Associated Press reported.
The UN committee was addressing the.Vatican's neglect to observe the UN Convention's Rights of the Child.
The signatories of the Convention are obliged to protect children from harm.
Critics of the Catholic Church accuse the Vatican of covering up the rape of thousands of children so that the Church remained unblemished on the eyes of the law.
The conference held at the UN headquarters in Geneva was an irony to committee members who wondered how an organization as traditional as the Holy See would have to answer to a human right committee.
Sara Oviedo, the primary investigator highlighted the incongruence.in the Vatican'statement asking, why abusive priests were transferred.to other parishes rather than turning them in to the police.
Psychologist,Maria Rita Parsi, asked, "If these events continue to be hidden and covered up, to what extent will children be affected?"
UN Committee members requested the Holy See to forward more information that relates to the extent of the problem, how the Vatican has dealth with it and what Pope Francis plans to do with the new commission intends to do. The Vatican was also asked to detail the best practices to secure children from abuse and assist in the healing of victims.
