Episcopal Conference of Italy commissions a study on clergy sexual abuse for the first time in its history

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(CNN) ––

The Episcopal Conference of Italian Bishops (CEI) commissioned for the first time in its history a study on cases of sexual abuse by the Church in the country from 2001.

CEI President Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi told a news conference in Rome on Friday that the study would be carried out by independent bodies, including university institutes specializing in criminology and victimology.

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Zuppi added that the study will focus on cases that were reported to Diocesan Services, a network established in 2019 where victims of sexual abuse can present their cases, as well as those that have been reported to the Vatican's Congregation Doctrine of the Faith. . .

According to Zuppi, "thought is always with the victims, their pain is the first concern."

The cardinal added that the priority of the study is to help understand the nature of the problem.

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Many journalists insisted on the question of why not study the cases prior to 2001, as other European countries have done, including France, as well as why not open an exhaustive investigation at the level of all Italian dioceses.

But Zuppi couldn't fully answer those questions.

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In that sense, he limited himself to saying that the current standards cannot be applied to those of more than 50 years ago, and also that "this study is serious" and wants to avoid misunderstandings in the data.

Zuppi told the media that the study will also include prevention activities that the Church has undertaken and will be published on November 18 this year.

Sexual abuse in the Church Episcopal Conference Priests