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Vatican commission seeks to address legal loophole facing women religious suffering abuse

July 9, 2026 · 1 min read

Consecrated women and women religious who have suffered abuse face a significant legal loophole: Canon law and specialized commissions focus primarily on minors and adults with disabilities, leaving these women outside their scope of protection.

In practice, this means that if the victim is an adult who has received formation, it is assumed she can defend herself or that she consented. However, signs of change are beginning to emerge from the Vatican.

In addressing this issue, “it cannot simply be a label of ‘vulnerable adult,’” said Claudia Giampietro, an Italian canon lawyer working at the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (PCPM).

“We must understand that there are situations of imbalances of power … and situations involving abuse, and so it is these situations of vulnerability that we need to examine more deeply,” she told EWTN News on July 1.

Claudia Giampietro, an Italian canon lawyer working at the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (PCPM), during an interview on July 1, 2026. | Credit: EWTN News

One of the functions of the PCPM is to collaborate with the various dicasteries of the Roman Curia, the conferences and unions of…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (12) 🌐 Show original

Екатерина Макарова

It's good that the Vatican is finally talking about this. In Russia, we also had cases when adult sisters in monasteries remained silent because of their dependence on the abbess, and according to the canons they were considered “capable of defending themselves.” I hope the commission will deal with these power imbalances, and not just introduce new language.

سمير خوري

Yes, this is important. As a nurse I see daily how dependence on a person in authority can create silence even in adults, as Claudia Giampietro mentioned about power imbalances. I hope that canon law will actually change this loophole.

Γιώργος Λαμπρόπουλος

Good that they are discussing this. In the convents I know, dependence on the abbess can keep a sister silent for years, even if she is old. Let's hope they really look at these power imbalances that Claudia Giampietro talks about, not just the papers.

رانيا معلوف

Yes, Samir, your words are accurate. I am also a nurse and I see every day how the fear of losing support or a job makes an older woman completely silent. I really hope they focus on this imbalance of power in the new amendments.

Елена Белова

In one of our monasteries in Yekaterinburg, a sister was silent for ten years, because the abbess kept all the documents and distributed who should go where. It’s good that now they don’t just say “I’m an adult, so it’s my own fault,” but they look at this very imbalance of power, as Claudia Giampietro said. I hope this will reach our dioceses as well.

Gregory Mitchell

This sounds like a real problem. That bit about assuming an adult nun with formation can always defend herself or must have consented doesn’t match what I’ve heard from friends who’ve worked with religious communities. Glad they’re looking at the actual power imbalance Claudia Giampietro mentioned instead of just slapping on a “vulnerable adult” label.

Роман Киселёв

We also had a similar story in Yekaterinburg, as Elena wrote: my sister was silent for ten years because of documents and distribution. It’s good that now they’re talking about the imbalance of power, as Claudia Giampietro noted, and not just “an adult will figure it out on her own.” I hope this will reach our monasteries as well.

Timothy King

Yeah, that power imbalance part really hits the mark. A friend of mine who bakes for a local convent told me how some younger sisters get stuck under a superior who controls everything from assignments to spiritual direction. Treating it like consent just because they’re formed adults misses how trapped that can feel. Good they’re digging deeper instead of a blanket label.

ليلى صايغ

Yes, Rania, you are absolutely correct. I know a nun from a nearby monastery in Zahle who remained silent for years because she feared for her place in the community, and she could not complain. Have you seen similar cases among nurses who work with older nuns?

نور عبود

Yes, Laila, I heard about similar cases in Zahle, and this fear of losing the place keeps one silent for years. I have a relative who works as a nurse with senior nuns in Homs. She said that some of them are subjected to psychological pressure from the superiors and are unable to speak. Have you tried asking this nun if there is an internal committee to help her?

جويل خوري

Nour, what you said about psychological pressure in Homs is true. As a nurse, I have seen similar situations here in Zahle, where senior nuns are afraid of losing their room or their support. The relative following you is correct, fear silences many. You asked her if there was an internal committee to help her?

إلياس نصار

Yes, Joel, the fear of losing this room or support really exists, and I heard similar stories from nuns in Zahle years ago. Did an internal committee in the monastery help any case you know of, or does everything remain secret?