The next Pope must have zero tolerance for child abuse: An open letter from the Brave Movement

As survivors of childhood sexual violence, we know that the Roman Catholic Church has failed historically to prevent and to root out abuse from within its own ranks.

Pope Francis spent much of his papacy issuing apologies for clerical sex abuse. His successor must do more.

The 135 cardinal electors must ensure the Church’s next leader is committed to a public position of zero tolerance of abuse by any of its members.

The next Pope must update Canon Law to adopt a zero tolerance law which identifies sexual abuse as a grave crime against the life, dignity, and freedom of victims. It must be applied without exception, and sufficient information released to demonstrate compliance.

He must establish an independent compliance agency to investigate, document, and publicly identify persons of authority in the Church who contributed through their negligence or intentional acts to conceal abusive priests.

The next Pope should commit to fully implementing the recommendations of the 2014 UN Committee on the Rights of the Child report to the Vatican.

The Church he leads must report all cases of clerical sex abuse to law enforcement and share the canonical files related to every case with the civil authorities.

Bishops who have mishandled clergy sex abuse cases must be fired.

The Church must compensate all survivors fairly.

And it must lobby in favour - and not against - the abolition of criminal and civil statute of limitations.

This Conclave must select a new Pope with the commitment - and the record - to show they have never and will never tolerate the abuse of children within the Church.

Victims of the Church need more than apologies; they need change.