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Image credit: Bishop Robert Prevost upon his appointment as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo, 2014, By Frayjhonattan, courtesy of Wikipedia.
With the election of Pope Leo XIV—formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost—as the first American pontiff in the Catholic Church’s 2,000-year history, survivors of clergy sexual abuse and advocacy groups are urging the new pope to reckon with his past and take bold, immediate action to confront the Church’s global abuse crisis, Newsweek reported today.
Prevost, 69, was elected on May 8, 2025, and appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica as the newly chosen head of a 1.4 billion-member institution that has faced decades of scandal and erosion of public trust due to widespread sexual abuse and cover-ups by clergy.
A Call for Zero Tolerance
Just hours before Prevost’s election, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP; profile/website), which represents more than 25,000 survivors worldwide, released an open letter calling on the new pontiff to adopt a “truly universal zero tolerance law” for both sexual abuse and institutional cover-ups. After his election, the group issued a statement underscoring the gravity of the role he now holds and the scrutiny that comes with it.
“With the title comes a grave reckoning,” SNAP said. The organization is demanding a full Vatican investigation into Prevost’s handling of at least two past abuse cases in which his oversight and response have been called into question.
Handling of Clerical Abuse Cases
One of the cases centers on Father James Ray, a priest accused of sexually abusing minors in the United States. Nearly a decade after allegations first surfaced, Ray was moved to the Augustinians’ St. John Stone Friary in Chicago. Despite the friary’s proximity to a Catholic elementary school, church records claimed there was “no school in the immediate area.”
SNAP has accused Prevost of approving the transfer and thereby “endangering” children. The Vatican has denied that Prevost authorized the arrangement, but SNAP has not withdrawn its call for a full review.
In a separate case from Peru, where Prevost served as bishop of Chiclayo from 2014 to 2023, three women accused two priests of sexual abuse dating back to the early 2000s. SNAP claims that Prevost failed to properly investigate the allegations, did not suspend the priests from ministry, and sent incomplete reports to Rome.
According to SNAP, the victims’ testimony was never formally collected, civil authorities were not informed, and no psychological support was offered. One of the priests reportedly continued saying mass during the period of supposed investigation.
“There is serious reason to believe that Cardinal Prevost did not follow the procedures established by the Holy See,” SNAP wrote in a letter submitted to the Vatican in March—before the death of Pope Francis. As of May 9, SNAP says it has received no response.
SNAP’s Demands for Transparency and Action
SNAP is now urging Pope Leo XIV to use his first 100 days in office to implement sweeping reforms. Their demands include:
- A binding global zero-tolerance policy for clergy sexual abuse and cover-ups.
- A reparations fund for survivors, financed by Church assets.
- Independent, transparent investigations into abuse allegations—including Prevost’s past conduct.
- Public release of findings from any inquiries.
“You can end the abuse crisis — the only question is, will you?” SNAP concluded in its open letter.
Background and Career in the Church
Born in Chicago in 1955, Prevost joined the Order of St. Augustine and was ordained in 1982. He later earned a doctorate in Canon Law in Rome before embarking on missionary work in Peru, where he became a naturalized citizen. His work in Chiclayo focused heavily on pastoral care and community leadership, though now that tenure is being reevaluated in light of survivor testimony.
In 2023, Pope Francis appointed Prevost to head the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops, one of the most influential roles in the Church. He was made a cardinal the same year.
A Papacy Under Watch
Pope Leo XIV enters the papacy during a precarious moment for the Catholic Church. While some hail his deep pastoral experience and global background, others fear he may represent a continuation of institutional inertia rather than a break from it.
Survivor advocates argue that how he responds to these early calls for transparency, reform, and accountability will define his legacy.
As SNAP spokesperson Sarah Pearson told Newsweek, “These are serious allegations by three women and their complaints deserve to be investigated… Now that he’s the pope, we’re gravely concerned.”
If you or a loved one is a survivor of clergy abuse, it is never too late to learn your legal rights, get justice, and receive possible compensation. Visit our comprehensive Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Guide.
