Landmark UN report criticises Holy See's record on abuse – and the Church's teaching on contraception and abortion

On 5 February the United Nations issued its report into the Holy See’s record on dealing with the sexual abuse of minors by priests. The unprecedented report included hard-hitting – if non-binding – recommendations, such as immediately removing and reporting to the police not only priests who had abused but also those suspected of having abused.

However it also then went on to make recommendations relating to the Church’s teaching on contraception and abortion, prompting the Vatican to respond by saying that while the Holy See was committed to protecting the rights of the child, it “regret[ted] to see in some points … an attempt to interfere with Catholic Church teaching on the dignity of human person and in the exercise of religious freedom”.

Read the report here.