Abuse victims question if Pope Francis did enough to stop predators | BBC News

For the Catholic Church, no aspect of Pope Francis' record is more sensitive or contentious than his handling of the sexual abuse of children by members of the clergy.

While he's widely acknowledged to have gone further than his predecessors in acknowledging victims and reforming the Church's own internal procedures, many survivors do not think he went far enough.

Alexa MacPherson's abuse by a Catholic priest began around the age of three and continued for six years. On discovering the abuse, her father called the police.

A court hearing for a criminal complaint against the priest, Peter Kanchong, accused of assault and battery of a minor, was set for 24 August 1984.

But unbeknownst to the family, something extraordinary was taking place behind the scenes. The Church – an institution that wielded enormous power in a deeply Catholic city – believed that the court was on its side.

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Post from BBC News on May 06, 2025