VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican "systematically" adopted policies
that allowed priests to rape and molest tens of thousands of children
over decades, a U.N. human rights committee said Wednesday, urging the
Holy See to open its files on pedophiles and bishops who concealed their
crimes.
In
a devastating report hailed by abuse victims, the U.N. committee
severely criticized the Holy See for its attitudes toward homosexuality,
contraception and abortion and said it should change its own canon law
to ensure children's rights and their access to health care are
guaranteed.
