On Thursday, protesters gathered outside Kinshasa’s Notre Dame Cathedral to denounce systemic sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Advocates are drawing attention the case of a 14-year-old girl who was raped by a priest in the DRC, and demanding the church apply a 2019 law enacted by the pope to hold bishops accountable for sex abuse or for covering it up. This is Tim Law, founder of Ending Clergy Abuse. 

Tim Law: “What happened after the abuse was reported to the bishop, the good sisters and priests that reported it all got fired, and the order disbanded, and the girl has left the country in fear of her life. If the pope doesn’t enforce this law, he’s sending a message throughout all of Africa: 'Bishops, it doesn't matter. Do what you want.’ If he enforces this law, he sends the message that he cares about the African children.”