In Boston, Alexa MacPherson tells her harrowing story of abuse at the hands of a priest starting at the age of three. While her trauma predates Pope Francis, she believes the Church has unfulfilled responsibilities towards victims of abuse. She recounts the aftermath of her experience, questioning the Church's commitment to transparency and accountability.
Facing a meeting of 133 cardinals in Rome to elect the next pontiff, the legacy of Pope Francis looms large—particularly regarding his treatment of sexual abuse cases. Survivors like MacPherson, who suffered abuse at the hands of priest Peter Kanchong, argue that the pope's reforms were insubstantial.
MacPherson was only three when her abuse began, which continued for six years until her father discovered Kanchong trying to rape her at home. The archbishop of Boston at the time, Bernard Law, wrote a letter discussing the scandal's potential harm to the Church, indicating a prioritization of Church reputation over victim safety.
Though Pope Francis made strides by summoning bishops to address the crisis and modifying laws regarding Church secrecy, many survivors argue that these efforts are insufficient. MacPherson's lawyer, notable for exposing similar abuses in Boston, echoes this sentiment, asserting that significantly more reform is necessary.
As the Church navigates a period of transition, MacPherson expresses frustration over the Church's continued secrecy surrounding abuse cases, insisting on accountability for both perpetrators and those who concealed the truth. With the pope's funeral dominating news cycles, the media coverage is a bitter reminder of the ongoing trauma for survivors.
In her view, true progress can only be achieved through full accountability and transparency, a sentiment shared by many advocating for change in the Church. Peter Kanchong, the priest who abused her, remains unchecked and unconvicted, illustrating the unresolved nature of these cases within the Church.
As cardinals prepare to elect a new pope, MacPherson remains skeptical about meaningful reform. "You cannot possibly do any of that until you truly acknowledge those sins," she states, highlighting the deep-seated systemic issues that persist despite the Church's claims of progress.
With urgent calls for action still unaddressed, survivors anxiously await whether the election of a new pope will herald real change in the Church's ongoing struggle with its scandalous past.
Facing a meeting of 133 cardinals in Rome to elect the next pontiff, the legacy of Pope Francis looms large—particularly regarding his treatment of sexual abuse cases. Survivors like MacPherson, who suffered abuse at the hands of priest Peter Kanchong, argue that the pope's reforms were insubstantial.
MacPherson was only three when her abuse began, which continued for six years until her father discovered Kanchong trying to rape her at home. The archbishop of Boston at the time, Bernard Law, wrote a letter discussing the scandal's potential harm to the Church, indicating a prioritization of Church reputation over victim safety.
Though Pope Francis made strides by summoning bishops to address the crisis and modifying laws regarding Church secrecy, many survivors argue that these efforts are insufficient. MacPherson's lawyer, notable for exposing similar abuses in Boston, echoes this sentiment, asserting that significantly more reform is necessary.
As the Church navigates a period of transition, MacPherson expresses frustration over the Church's continued secrecy surrounding abuse cases, insisting on accountability for both perpetrators and those who concealed the truth. With the pope's funeral dominating news cycles, the media coverage is a bitter reminder of the ongoing trauma for survivors.
In her view, true progress can only be achieved through full accountability and transparency, a sentiment shared by many advocating for change in the Church. Peter Kanchong, the priest who abused her, remains unchecked and unconvicted, illustrating the unresolved nature of these cases within the Church.
As cardinals prepare to elect a new pope, MacPherson remains skeptical about meaningful reform. "You cannot possibly do any of that until you truly acknowledge those sins," she states, highlighting the deep-seated systemic issues that persist despite the Church's claims of progress.
With urgent calls for action still unaddressed, survivors anxiously await whether the election of a new pope will herald real change in the Church's ongoing struggle with its scandalous past.
