VATICAN CITY (RNS) Witnesses at a Vatican criminal trial on Wednesday (Feb. 24) described “an unhealthy environment” at St. Pius X preparatory seminary for Vatican altar boys, where a priest is accused of sexually abusing a student.
The trial is the first to address alleged sexual abuse within the Vatican walls. St. Pius X, whose students are ages 12-18, is run by the Diocese of Como but is located in the Catholic nation-state, a stone’s throw away from Pope Francis’ residence.
Unprecedented and based on the child protection laws for the Vatican put in place by Francis, the trial has served to highlight the progress those reforms have achieved, but it also underlines the often demeaning culture permeating Catholic institutions.