Church sex abuse victims to gather near Vatican, demand crime against humanity designation

This weekend, people who were raped and molested by priests are gathering in Rome to launch a petition demanding that sexual abuse against children be considered a crime against humanity. Several hundred people from a dozen countries are expected to attend. This Sunday will mark the first time that abuse survivors have gathered for a day of healing. The gathering was set to take place in St. Peter's Square, however they were forced to move a couple of hundred yards away because the Holy See declined their access. One of the organizers, Gary Bergeron states that the issue needs to be treated as a global one. "If it can happen in an institution like the Catholic Church, it can happen anywhere. If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone," he told reporters.

Bergeron and co-organizer, Bernie McDaid, met with the Vatican No. 2 in 2003 and McDaid became the first victim to meet with Pope Benedict XVI. Both men were abused by a Boston-area priest. The sex abuse scandal erupted in Boston in 2002 and Bergeron and McDaid state that nothing has been done to solve crimes committed by priests against young children. Both men are upset that the Vatican has not taken responsibility and reached out to victims. Just this year, people have began to take notice to the issue. Stories of thousands of cases in Europe and beyond, the bishops who covered up the priest's actions, and the Vatican officials who paid no attention to the problem have been revealed to the public.

The pope has admitted that the church failed to take sufficient measures to put a stop to these crimes and has also made several apologies to victims during several foreign trips. However, still no outreach programs have been set in place.

Victims from Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy are expected to attend. Victims from Verona, Italy are expected to attend and are one of the most horrific examples of abuse. Many of these victims were molested by priests while they were students at an institution for the deaf.

Bergeron states, "I am not here to change the world. I am here to make sure my son isn't abused." Bergeron's father was also abused by a priest when he was a child.

I can not begin to imagine what kind of individual would take away the innocence of a child, however it happens so often. The issue of child molestation and rape was and still is an important issue. I think anyone who could perform sexual acts against someone without consent is disgusting and even more so when the acts are against a child. I believe we need to make this issue more well-known by educating the public through media and establish programs to help victims heal from their experience. I also believe that the Vatican should make it their personal responsibility to "clean house." After committing a crime such as this, no priest should receive forgiveness; they should be let go immediately. I also think that it is a good idea to hold these healing gatherings more often. It may possibly give victims who have never come forward the chance to express their pain with people who have endured what they have.

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