Pope Francis confirms priests' abuse of nuns included "sexual slavery"
By Tucker Reals
/ CBS News
Nuns have suffered and are still suffering sexual abuse at the hands of Catholic priests and bishops, and even being held as sexual slaves, Pope Francis confirmed on Tuesday. The abuse was so severe in one case that an entire congregation of nuns was dissolved by former Pope Benedict.
The scope of the abuse of nuns by clergy members first came to light with the publication at the beginning of February of the monthly magazine "Women Church World." The edition included Francis' own take on the scandal — long known about by the Vatican but virtually never discussed — in which he blamed the unchecked power wielded by priests and higher clergy across the Catholic Church for such crimes.
An Associated Press journalist who first reported on the scandal last year asked Pope Francis on his flight home from the Arabian Peninsula on Tuesday whether enough was being done by the Church hierarchy to address the problem.
The pontiff conceded that it was a problem and said more action was needed, and insisted the will to confront the abuse was there. He stressed that the problem was not new, and that the Church has been working to address it for some time.
"It's a path that we've been on. Pope Benedict had the courage to dissolve a female congregation which was at a certain level, because this slavery of women had entered it — slavery, even to the point of sexual slavery — on the part of clerics or the founder," the pope conceded.
A papal spokesperson confirmed later to CBS News that the order of nuns dissolved under Benedict was the Community of St. Jean in France. The reason the order was dissolved had not previously been made public.
The Saint Jean order was dissolved in 2005, the first year Pope Benedict served as the head of the Church. He stepped down and Pope Francis took over as pontiff in 2013.
"I would like to underscore that he was a man who had the courage to do many things on this topic," Pope Francis said of his predecessor on Tuesday.
The pope confirmed that the abuse of nuns was an ongoing problem, but said it was only in "certain congregations, predominantly new ones and in certain regions more than others."
While the pontiff did not provide further detail on Tuesday, nuns in India and Chile, at least, have previously reported abuse at the hands of priests.
Francis told reporters on his flight that the Catholic Church," shouldn't be scandalized by this," adding that "there are steps in a process," and "we are working on it."
The Vatican's new openness in discussing the abuse of nuns comes after years of revelations about clergy abusing children, mostly boys, in their congregations across the globe, and senior clergy members covering up those crimes.
On his last flight home from an international trip, just last week, Pope Francis warned that expectations for an upcoming landmark Vatican summit on clergy sexual abuse should be "deflated," as the problem was unlikely to be resolved through it.
The pontiff's move to lower expectations was likely a disappointment to many Catholics, particularly in the U.S. where the last year has seen a string of revelations about senior church leaders covering up abuse.
First published on February 5, 2019
© 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Tucker Reals
Tucker Reals is the CBSNews.com foreign editor, based at the CBS News London bureau.
Woman who confronted Jeff Flake going to State of the Union
Ana Maria Archila is known for confronting Jeff Flake in an elevator during the Kavanaugh hearings and telling him about her own sexual assault
updated 24M ago 
Facebook messenger rolls out unsend feature
After Facebook came under fire for letting Mark Zuckerberg alter message history, it gave all users an "unsend" option
updated 31M ago 
Nurse accused of assaulting patient pleads not guilty
Nathan Sutherland is accused of raping a patient at Hacienda HealthCare
updated 39M ago 
New report finds no foreign interference in 2018 elections
The DOJ and DHS worked with federal, state and local officials in all 50 states and in more than 1400 local jurisdictions to safeguard the election
updated 54M ago 
Boy bullied over his name going to State of the Union
The sixth grader, Joshua Trump, was bullied for his last name so much that his parents tried homeschooling
1H ago 
Woman who confronted Jeff Flake going to State of the Union
Ana Maria Archila is known for confronting Jeff Flake in an elevator during the Kavanaugh hearings and telling him about her own sexual assault
updated 24M ago
New report finds no foreign interference in 2018 elections
The DOJ and DHS worked with federal, state and local officials in all 50 states and in more than 1400 local jurisdictions to safeguard the election
updated 54M ago
Boy bullied over his name going to State of the Union
The sixth grader, Joshua Trump, was bullied for his last name so much that his parents tried homeschooling
1H ago 
White House responds to Trump inaugural committee subpoena
The sweeping subpoena is looking for records related to the Trump inaugural committee and donors
2H ago 
The state of the facts on Trump's foreign policy
Trump's State of the Union address is likely to include the mention of some of these foreign policy challenges
2H ago 
Pope says priests' abuse of nuns went as far as "sexual slavery"
Catholic leader admits sexual abuse of nuns by clergy members is still a problem but insists, "we are working on it"
updated 8M ago 
Russia says it must develop new missiles as nuke treaty falls apart
Day after Moscow says it will not "strive for an arms race," Russian military announces plans for long-banned new weapons with Europe in range
1H ago 
As Brexit looms, stockpiling goods hits high gear
Anticipating a split without a deal from the EU, businesses and consumers are preparing by stocking up
3H ago 
How hunger is fueling Venezuela's fast-rising opposition
At least 38 countries now support opposition leader Juan Guaidó, and voices backing embattled President Nicolas Maduro are dwindling
updated 2M ago 
"Where is my son?" One family's pain in the Brazil dam disaster
AP photographer documents story of a grieving mother, her family's anguish and anger at the company behind the catastrophe
6H ago 
Watch the New England Patriots' Super Bowl LIII victory parade
Unlike the snowy, cold parade two years ago, Tuesday is supposed to be a beautiful day for a championship parade in Boston
2H ago 
Andy Cohen welcomes baby boy via surrogate
Cohen's first child was born in Los Angeles on Monday evening
4H ago 
Liam Neeson under fire for comments on race and revenge
Liam Neeson admits in an interview he once had violent thoughts about killing a black person after learning that someone close to him had been raped
3H ago 
Grammy nominee H.E.R. on seeing her "vision come to life"
At 21 years old, the R&B singer-songwriter is up for five Grammy Awards including best new artist and album of the year
21H ago 
Parkland dad who slammed Louis C.K. to attend State of the Union
A grieving father who responded to Louis C.K.'s jokes about the Parkland shooting with a standup routine of his own has been invited to Tuesday's State of the Union address
22H ago 
What happened when I asked Alexa and Google Assistant for my data
As smart home devices become increasingly popular, concerns about data collection aren't going away
updated 46M ago 
Crypto company out $137M after passwords die with owner
The founder's widow said "repeated and diligent searches" for a password have failed
13H ago 
Tech investor says Facebook is "terrible for America"
"Zucked" author Roger McNamee says Facebook is a threat to democracy, public health and privacy, and makes everyone vulnerable to bad actors
Feb 4 
Meteorite appears to hit Cuba
In a tweet, the National Weather Service said its radar "may have detected the meteor" at 1:21 p.m. near Viñales, Cuba
Feb 1 
"Lies spread faster than truth" on social media, journalist says
The CEO of Rappler alleged the online news website has been targeted by social media disinformation campaigns after its tough reporting on the government
Feb 1 
Women's brains appear "years younger" than men's, study finds
New research offers clues as to why women tend to outlive men and stay mentally sharp longer
updated 6M ago 
Pot for pets? Cannabis products marketed for animals
Some animal lovers are giving the supplements a try, but experts caution they aren't necessarily a good fit for every pet
21H ago 
3rd poultry firm recalls chicken on fears of tainted goods
Pilgrim's Pride recall follows Tyson and Perdue moves to stop sales of food possibly tainted with extraneous material
22H ago 
Obesity-linked cancers rising for young Americans
Cancers tied to extra weight keep climbing among those aged 25 to 49, a new study finds
17H ago 
Bill would eventually make Hawaii first state to ban cigarette sales
Measure would gradually raise minimum age of people allowed to buy them to 100
Feb 4 
Facebook messenger rolls out unsend feature
After Facebook came under fire for letting Mark Zuckerberg alter message history, it gave all users an "unsend" option
updated 31M ago 
Ban on foie gras in NYC restaurants proposed
Bill would have the Big Apple following California in outlawing delicacy that animal advocates say involves cruelty
updated 55M ago 
The state of the facts on U.S. economy, taxes and more
Solid economic growth gives President Trump something to brag about in State of the Union address, though clouds hover
2H ago
As Brexit looms, stockpiling goods hits high gear
Anticipating a split without a deal from the EU, businesses and consumers are preparing by stocking up
3H ago 
Super Bowl betting: Fans wager $185.5 million legally in three states
The game was the first major pro sports event to be posted on the boards of sportsbooks outside Nevada
3H ago 
Nurse accused of assaulting patient pleads not guilty
Nathan Sutherland is accused of raping a patient at Hacienda HealthCare
updated 39M ago 
Va. state trooper, drug suspect shot to death during home search
Authorities say suspect fired at officers who entered a home to look for drugs, killing trooper, and officers then shot suspect
5H ago 
Lawsuit alleges "inhumane" conditions in cold Brooklyn jail
A lawsuit filed Monday says a weeklong power failure at a federal jail in New York City caused "inhumane conditions" for inmates
17H ago 
Judge lets church shooting victims sue gun retailer
Families of those killed in the 2017 massacre in Sutherland Springs argue Academy Sport & Outdoors is liable
17H ago 
Jury begins deliberations over fate of infamous drug lord El Chapo
The jury has heard months of testimony about Joaquin Guzman's rise to power as the head of the Sinaloa cartel
16H ago
