GENEVA, Switzerland, July 10 (UPI) -- The U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child has asked the Vatican for a complete report on cases of sexual abuse in Catholic institutions around the world.
The agency, based in Geneva, Switzerland, has scheduled a hearing in January on clerical sexual molestation and asked for a report on all cases from 1995 on, the BBC reported Wednesday.
It is seeking "detailed information on all cases of child sexual abuse committed by members of the clergy, brothers and nuns or brought to the attention of the Holy See."
The Vatican has only required national churches to report on cases of sexual abuse since 2001, so the information may not be available, the BBC said.
Pope Francis, who took office this year after the retirement of Benedict XVI, has promised a change in church handling of sexual abuse charges.
