Survivors Claim New Pope Leo XIV Failed To Adequately Investigate Child Sexual Abuse Allegations

The newly elected Pope Leo XIV has been accused of endangering children and failing to adequately investigate claims of child sexual abuse.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) previously raised concerns about Robert Prevost, elected Thursday as the first American pontiff, with Pope Francis. 

SNAP is once again sharing its concerns regarding how Prevost dealt with sexual abuse complaints. 

Survivors raised concerns about Prevost’s conduct before Pope Francis’ death

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In a letter to Pope Francis in March of this year, SNAP president Shaun Dougherty reported Prevost’s conduct under Vos estis lux mundi—the Church’s protocol for investigating abuse and cover-ups by bishops.

One of the concerns related to Father James Ray, who was accused of sexually abusing minors and had been under restrictions since 1991.

Prevost reportedly allowed Ray to live at the St. John Stone Friary in Chicago in 2000, near a Catholic elementary school, despite knowing of the allegations.

“Cardinal Prevost was aware of the danger that Ray posed to minors when he gave approval,” the letter read.

“Nonetheless, Ray was permitted to live at the Priory in the vicinity of an elementary school without informing the administration of the school.” 

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“By doing so, Cardinal Prevost endangered the safety of the children attending St. Thomas the Apostle.”

Further concerns raised relate to when Prevost served as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru. 

In April 2022, three women came forward with allegations of sexual abuse by two priests, Eleuterio Vásquez Gonzáles and Ricardo Yesquén. 

The abuse dated back to when the women were minors, with one alleging it began when she was just 9 years old. 

The case was reported to Prevost, but after the victims felt there was no movement on the canonical case filed through the diocese, they reported it to authorities in December. 

Due to expired statutes of limitations, the case was closed. 

The victims have since claimed that Prevost failed to open an investigation and sent inadequate information to Rome. 

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They also allege that the diocese allowed at least one priest to continue saying mass and say they were not offered psychological support or assistance, or contacted by investigators.

“There is evidence that the accused priests were not suspended from public ministry following a report of abuse and during the period of the purported preliminary investigation,” SNAP’s letter said.

“The victims’ testimony was not gathered, Cardinal Prevost did not notify the civil authorities of the allegations, and the victims were not offered psychological support or assistance. 

“The allegations of the victims indicate that under the leadership of Cardinal Prevost, the Diocese of Chiclayo did not investigate their abuse claims and misrepresented their testimony in the report to the DDF, preventing an accurate assessment of the case.” 

SNAP claims Prevost mishandled cases and is now urging him to enact a zero-tolerance approach

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In a press release after the allegations were first raised, the Diocese of Chiclayo denied claims of mishandling and said the women were offered psychological support. 

Prevost did not cover up the allegations or remain silent in the face of them, according to the release. 

“From the moment of the reception of the complaint, and maintaining the right of the presumption of innocence, it was proceeded according to the guidelines of the Church both in the prior investigation as well as in the application of the precautionary measures: the removal from the parish and the prohibition of the public exercise of the priestly ministry,” the Diocese of Chiclayo said. 

“The Diocese of Chiclayo expresses its commitment to protect the physical and moral integrity of minors and vulnerable personnel, condemning any kind of behavior that attempts against them.”

SNAP has now released an open letter to the new pontiff, calling on him to take decisive action within the first 100 days. 

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They want Pope Leo to enact a truly universal zero-tolerance law for sexual abuse and cover-ups, and an independent Global Truth Commission with full Vatican cooperation.

Other actions they are calling for include international legal agreements mandating transparency and accountability, a reparations fund supported by church assets, and a Global Survivors Council with the authority to oversee and enforce compliance.

“You can end the abuse crisis—the only question is, will you?” SNAP concluded.