Catholic Church

===Sexual abuse cases===
{{Main|Catholic Church sexual abuse cases}}
From the 1990s, the issue of [[sexual abuse of minors]] by Catholic clergy and other church members has become the subject of civil litigation, criminal prosecution, media coverage and public debate in [[Catholic Church sex abuse cases by country|countries around the world]]. The Catholic Church has been criticized for its handling of abuse complaints when it became known that some bishops had shielded accused priests, transferring them to other pastoral assignments where some continued to commit sexual offences.

In response to the scandal, formal procedures have been established to help prevent abuse, encourage the reporting of any abuse that occurs and to handle such reports promptly, although groups representing victims have disputed their effectiveness.<ref>{{cite news|author=David Willey|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10645748|title=Vatican 'speeds up' abuse cases|work=BBC News|date=15 July 2010|access-date=28 October 2010}}</ref> In 2014, Pope Francis instituted the [[Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors]] for the safeguarding of minors.<ref name="hspo.b0199/00444.2014.03.22">{{cite press release |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2014/03/22/0199/00444.html |title=Comunicato della Sala Stampa: Istituzione della Pontificia Commissione per la Tutela dei Minori |trans-title=Press Release: Establishment of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors |language=it |publisher=[[Holy See Press Office]] |date=22 March 2014 |access-date=30 March 2014 |id=B0199/00444}}</ref>