The mission of ECA is to compel the Roman Catholic Church to end clergy abuse*, especially child sexual abuse, in order to protect children and to seek justice for victims. ECA demands the end of the Church’s structural mechanism that allows abuse.
ECA Definition
Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA) is a worldwide organization of human rights’ activists who focus on children’s and victims’ rights joining in common cause to compel the Church to end clerical abuse, especially child sexual abuse, in order to protect children and to seek effective justice for victims. ECA demands the end of the Church’s structural mechanism that allows abuse.
ECA’s vision is mainly aligned with children’s rights as articulated by the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), of which the Vatican is a signatory. In its advocacy and actions, ECA adheres to the principles of active non-violence.
ECA acknowledges the right to live in a faith, free of abuse. ECA is not aligned against the institutional Church but seeks to end the abusive attitudes and practices that place the Church above the dignity of children.
ECA recognizes progress regarding clerical abuse in some countries, primarily due to brave victims who have fought to raise their voices. However, there are many more places in the world – including Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America – where victims’ voices are silenced.
ECA seeks to be that voice.
ECA Actions
1. To hold accountable the Roman Catholic Church in multiple arenas:
providing data, mobilizing public opinion, by judicial and legislative
actions to end clerical abuse, and to provide justice to victims.
2. To support and empower survivors by assisting them to organize and
contact local or global organizations to find help and demand for
justice.
3. To network with organizations that investigate and research about
sexual clerical abuse and cover up.
* Abuse / Violence: Sexual, physical, spiritual and psychological.
