Chicago

Cupich Lays Out Priorities for High-Profile Abuse Summit in Rome

Pope Francis’ summit on preventing clergy sexual abuse will include 190 participants, including 10 women from religious organizations

As top Catholic bishops from around the world meet later this week in Rome on the priest abuse crisis, Chicago's Cardinal Blase Cupich will be front and center.

Cupich on Monday addressed the media to lay out chief concerns for the first-ever worldwide summit, which has been in the planning stages for months.

"What I think is important for people not only in Chicago but for the world to understand, especially in the Catholic world," Cupich said, "is that the Holy Father wants to make very clear that, to the bishops around the world -- not only those participating -- that each one of them has to claim responsibility and ownership for this problem."

The main focus, he said, will be the protection of minors, though there are calls for the church leaders to address questions of sexual misconduct with adults.

"Those other issues of misbehavior on the part of clerics with adults ... are topics that need addressing," Cupich said. "But we are focusing in these days on those who have so little voice. Young people, minors don't have a voice."

Over the weekend, the Vatican defrocked former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who has been accused of having sex with seminarians, after a 10-month investigation revealed he faced credible allegations of abuse.

Survivors of abuse also traveled to Rome, calling this week an historic achievement for those who have been pushing the Vatican to take action.

The summit will include 190 participants, including 10 women from religious organizations. Pope Francis also will participate in the summit.

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