Pressure Mounts on Italian Bishops Amidst New Church Abuse Findings

A victims' group in Italy has reported that nearly 4,400 individuals suffered abuse by Catholic priests since 2020, heightening pressure on the Church to address longstanding issues. The Italian Bishops Conference has yet to respond, while a Vatican report highlights inadequate safeguarding practices among dioceses.

Nearly 4,400 individuals have allegedly been abused by Catholic priests in Italy since 2020, according to a report by Rete l'Abuso, the country's largest church abuse victims' group.

The report, which relies on victims' testimonies, judicial sources, and media reports, underscores ongoing pressures on the Church to confront a crisis spanning decades. The Italian Bishops Conference has refrained from commenting on these allegations.

A recent critical Vatican report cites only a fraction of Italy's dioceses as having responded to safeguarding practice inquiries, with the Church's handling of abuse cases coming under scrutiny.

(With inputs from agencies.)