The Roman Catholic Church has moved into a new era of awareness and reform regarding sexual assault within the clergy.

During a conference with approximately 200 senior church members assembled by Pope Francis in Vatican City; Cardinal of Chicago Balse Cupich alongside Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai addressed the growing issue of sexual assault within the Church.

Cupich commented on the “systematic failures” in holding members of all rankings within the clergy responsible due to their own lack of communication and interaction within the Church.

“I think its good that this has become an open conversation and that steps are being taken to correct and prevent further wrong-doings,” says junior, Juliana Valdez.

Since the Pope’s election in March of 2013, the sheer number of sexual abuse cases brought against the clergy within the past year, has made 2018 the worst year for the Pope post-election.

Pope Francis himself came under criticism in 2018 after defending a Bishop hailing from Chile after he was accused of hiding abuse that was taking place within his country. Later retracting his support, apologizing and accepting the Bishop’s resignation.

Many cases involve ranking members such as Bishops and Priests, as well as Cardinals have been brought to the public spotlight within the past year.

For example, all 34 ranking Bishops within Chile offered their resignation after a national scandal, during the Pope’s trip to Ireland decades of abuses was brought to light in the devout Catholic nation. Following a grand jury in Pennsylvania it was revealed that there was more than 1000 cases of the sexual abuse over numerous decades within the state alone.

Recently, Theodore McCarrick, whom was once a powerful member of the U.S based Church was dismissed from priesthood and stripped of  his position as a Cardinal after being found guilty of  sexual abuse of both minors and adults over several decades.

Although proof of McCarrick’s abuse towards children was only discovered last year, his actions of sexual assault towards young men studying for priesthood and his abuse of power are open secrets of the United States Church. Often raising questions as to how he managed to become so high ranking within the church.

A group of five victims spoke on Thursday about the sexual abuse they endured and the cover-ups that followed. They were reassured by Pope Francis that the guilty parties of not only their cases but all cases involving abuse by clergymen would be given definitive punishments.

The final session of the conference took place Sunday, February 24.  The Pope gave the final address and will continue working towards enforcing anti-abuse laws that are intended to quell the rise of sexual abuse cases on account of the clergy. The Catholic Church is also taking steps in holding its leaders accountable for their wrong doings.

The pope is moving in a direction that to some, is unexpected and is looking to enforce new rules in hopes of diminishing the ‘evil’ that has taken hold of the Catholic Church.