On January 31, 2025, a group of leading experts gathered for the first time for a groundbreaking three-day public summit to address child sexual abuse pervasive among churches and Christian priests’ role in covering up such crimes.
Top specialists on the Catholic abuse crisis alongside internationally recognised experts from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States attended the summit in the Phillippines, which sought to trigger a much-needed conversation on the long-neglected issue while also exposing the institutional failures in developing nations that have allowed abuse to persist unchecked.
Survivors like Gemma Hickey, president of ECA Global, an international coalition of survivors and human rights advocates from over twenty-five countries, have been forced into silence by both abusers and the system that protected them. Church leaders have shielded predators while sweeping under the rug the sufferings of the victims. Accountability and responsibility for the Church’s role in this global crisis are urgently needed.
In several countries across the world, clergies accused of horrendous crimes have enjoyed the protection of the powerful churches, prioritising the institution’s reputation over justice. High-ranking officials have covered up misconduct by transferring abusive priests and silencing victims. This culture of protection has perpetuated abuse, leaving lasting scars on survivors, their families, and communities.
The summit, thus, accorded a platform for survivors to share their ordeal and demand accountability from bishops and religious institutions that have enabled abuse through secrecy and negligence. Featured speakers examined the systemic nature of clergy sexual abuse, the complicity of church leadership, and the urgent need for reform, especially in developing nations where cultural norms and institutional power suppress victims’ voices.
“We must create spaces where survivors are heard and empowered to seek justice and healing,” said Dr. Murray Peter Heasley, a summit organizer. “In developing countries where reverence for the Church often protects abusers, this summit aims to drive meaningful change. These regions are vulnerable due to limited resources for supporting victims amid widespread institutional cover-ups.”
The event emphasised the need to strengthen safeguarding policies and provide religious institutions with tools to prevent abuse and support survivors. Discussions focused on ensuring legal systems, governments, and the Church take responsibility for past failures and rebuild trust with survivors and communities.
