Attorney General Josh Shapiro implored Pope Francis to help stop the attempts to silence victims of sexual abuse in six Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania.
Yesterday, Shapiro sent a letter to Pope Francis regarding his office’s investigation into the widespread sexual abuse and systemic coverup by Catholic Church leaders in Pennsylvania.
In his letter, the attorney general noted that Pope Francis visited St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania in 2015. There he met a group of sexual abuse survivors and apologized to them because the Church did not listen and believe them for so long.
Additionally, Shapiro stressed that at the time, Pope Francis told sexual abuse survivors that he “hears and believes” them. He promised “to follow the path of truth wherever it may lead.” He also vowed to hold clergy and bishops accountable when they abuse or fail to protect children.
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Furthermore, the attorney general expressed to the Pope that he admires his “commitment to fighting the defenseless.” However, he was disappointed by the actions of some clergy leading the Catholic Church in Pennsylvania.
