The July 2023 election of Cardinal Robert Prevost to Pope has caused a panic among survivors of clergy abuse. Prevost had already served for twelve years as the leader of the Augustinian religious order. At 69, he was elevated to the papacy, even as he stood accused of dodging allegations under his jurisdiction for years. His tenure has been marred by his lack of care and protection of the most vulnerable child—the abuse of which he has done nothing to stop within the church.
Prevost served as a leader of the Augustinian order’s chapter in Chicago from 1999 to 2010. Next Richard McGrath, the Catholic high school principal at Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, Illinois. This was the scenario that played out over this period of time. Media reports suggested that McGrath had been sexually abusing a student and had child-abuse imagery. Prevost chose to allow McGrath to remain in his post despite the allegations made against him. This decision poses troubling questions about how serious Prevost is to protect children.
To make things even more confusing, Prevost served for eight years as the bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, starting in 2015. In his eight years in that position, three different women came to him. They insisted that local priests Eleuterio Vásquez González and Ricardo Yesquén sexually abused them as minors. The women say they are dismayed by what they feel has been a failure to seriously investigate their allegations.
Prevost’s failure to protect children in cases of abuse has come under scrutiny from several national advocacy groups. The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) issued a statement expressing “grave concern about Robert Prevost’s record managing abuse cases.” They argued that Prevost’s actions enabled clerics with substantiated allegations to stay active members of the church.
The first of these was a pretty high-profile case about James Ray, a priest with a long history of serious sex abuse allegations. Since 1991, he has been banned from working with children. Prevost arranged for Ray to stay at an Augustinian community near a Catholic elementary school. This decision has raised alarm among child welfare advocates to a high extent. The Vatican has since contradicted that denial, asserting that Prevost did not approve Ray’s housing conditions.
Given all of these developments, many survivors are understandably doubting the church’s commitment to protecting children. Mitchell Garabedian, a prominent attorney for survivors, stated, “The Catholic church has to understand that the safety of innocent children cannot be sacrificed for an outdated and inexcusable need to protect the reputation of the Catholic church.” This desire resonates with the larger frustration of those who have been affected by clerical abuse.
Ana María Quispe, one of the women who approached Prevost about her own abuse experience, remarked, “They have always told us the church is our mother – but a mother protects.” That statement reveals a deepening disillusionment with the church’s ability to protect its most vulnerable members.
Prevost’s elevation to the papacy could be interpreted as a counter-move by the Vatican to show a face of stability. His reputation as a “moderating influence” among a group of ideologically disparate Peruvian bishops almost certainly led to his selection. It’s no wonder that many survivors and advocates are feeling cynical. They are skeptical that this new leadership will address the long-standing, systemic problems of clerical abuse within the church.
Survivors of Childhood Sex Abuse (SCSA) further criticized the church’s approach, stating, “The Catholic hierarchy has not merely mishandled abuse allegations – it industrialized the process.” Their comments highlight the understanding that, in order to fundamentally tackle these issues, systemic reform is required.
As Pope, Prevost is under tremendous scrutiny for everything he has done up to this point. The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests emphasized the need for change, asserting, “You can end the abuse crisis.” Advocates are calling for transparency and accountability from the church. Finally, they argue that the health and safety of children should take precedence over the protection of institutional reputation.