Čmilytė-Nielsen on priests' pedophilia scandal: Church's reaction too weak

Lithuanian Parliament Speaker Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen stated that the church's reaction to alleged pedophilia scandals is too weak and unacceptable. She emphasized the need to draw clear conclusions from the current situation and to break the cycle of such incidents.

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I think we must not tolerate, it is an unacceptable situation. We must draw very clear conclusions from the current situation and break that situation.

Čmilytė-Nielsen has asked the chairman of the Law and Order Committee to review the legal framework and identify any necessary changes. She also requested a meeting with the Prosecutor General to obtain a comprehensive overview of the situation and determine if any legislative gaps exist. The Speaker highlighted the importance of ensuring that such crimes are not tolerated or concealed, noting that reports suggest these issues have persisted for over 20 years in independent Lithuania.

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I asked the chairman of the Law and Order Committee to review the entire legal situation with colleagues at the next committee meeting, whether anything needs to be changed.

Furthermore, Čmilytė-Nielsen plans to meet with Archbishop Gintaras Grušas of Vilnius to discuss measures that should be taken to prevent similar cases from recurring. She views this issue as a matter of universal human concern, affecting both within and outside the church, and undermining societal foundations.

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I also asked for a meeting with Archbishop Gintaras Grušas to talk and see what measures should be taken so that such cases do not happen again.

While acknowledging the historical role of the church in Lithuania's independence movement and the contributions of many priests, Čmilytė-Nielsen noted that isolated incidents occur. She expressed a need for more statistical data to determine if these are systemic issues, which is why she sought a meeting with the Prosecutor General. The Speaker also stressed the public's responsibility to report potential crimes and educate children about recognizing threats.

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These are universal human affairs. Apparently, it happens in the church and outside the church, and that, of course, strikes at our foundations.