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Local sex abuse survivors following historic Vatican summit

Doubts exist on church's handling of crisis

For the first time in history, the Catholic church has called nearly two hundred leaders from around the world to Rome to talk about priest sex abuse.

They are now meeting for a 4-day summit.

Thousands of priests have been accused.

Most recently, in Pennsylvania, a grand jury found decades of cover-ups involving more than 300 priests and about 1,000 kids.

In Washington, DC the once-powerful archbishop was accused of abusing minors.

Tony Cardone was abused in Connecticut and now lives in Ohio where he is following the summit.

“The thing is, they’re basically, you know, investigating themselves,” he said.

The theme in Rome Thursday focused on “responsibility,” with Pope Francis providing “21 reflection points.”

He outlined steps including “alerting authorities,” “full investigations,” and “protecting victims” in cases of abuse.

“They are a road map for our discussion,” Archbishop Charles Scicluna, Vatican Sex Crimes Investigator, said.

Yet, there was no mention of “zero-tolerance.”

Some survivors say a road map may not be necessary, that change begins by changing those in charge.

“New people have to come in there, new people have to have an attitude ‘you can’t do this,’” Cardone said.

Each day of the summit will have a different theme. Friday’s is “accountability.”

Cardone is also concerned over the promise in the Diocese of Cleveland to release a list of all priests removed over abuse allegations.

It has yet to happen.

“What are they holding onto? ‘Till every one of them is dead?” he asked.

A spokesman for the diocese could not give a time frame on its release.

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