The long overlooked sexual abuse of nuns

In the 1990s, a series of private reports and studies found that Roman Catholic nuns were being sexually abused by priests or bishops. But only now is the issue seeing the light of day, after Pope Francis acknowledged the problem this week.

Known cases occurred predominantly in some African countries and India.

Details: In 1994, a multiyear, 23-nation survey found that the sexual abuse of nuns by priests or bishops was especially rampant in some African countries. In 1998, another report confirmed those findings and discovered that “even rape of sisters” was common. Another found that 29 nuns in one order alone had become pregnant.

And the problem has persisted. In 2013, a priest in Uganda was suspended after he raised concerns about his fellow priests engaging in sexual relations with women, including nuns. In India, a bishop currently faces charges of repeatedly raping a former mother superior.