Survivors and Advocates Urge Vatican for Global Zero-Tolerance Abuse Policy

Calls intensify for Pope Francis to extend the U.S. Church's strict measures against clergy abuse worldwide.

Rev. Hans Zollner, a former Vatican official, joins survivors in advocating for a universal zero-tolerance policy on clergy abuse.
The proposed policy would mirror the U.S. Catholic Church's 2002 mandate, which permanently removes priests after one substantiated abuse case.
Critics argue that the Vatican's current approach lacks consistency, with cultural considerations leading to lenient punishments in some regions.
A historic June meeting in Rome between survivors and church officials laid the groundwork for the current push for reform.
Pope Francis has prioritized addressing clergy abuse but has not yet implemented a universal zero-tolerance policy, citing challenges in global applicability.