In an unprecedented report , a United Nations committee slammed the Vatican 's handling of child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church and accused the church of protecting itself rather than the victims . The Vatican should establish an `` independent mechanism for monitoring children 's rights '' to investigate complaints and work with law enforcement , according to the report , which was released Wednesday . It calls for the church to immediately remove all known or suspected abusers from its ranks . The permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations , Archbishop Silvano Tomasi , said the Catholic Church has done much for the protection of children , but should do more . `` We have to continue to refine , to enact provisions that protect children in all their necessities so that they may grow and become productive adults in society and their dignity be constantly respected , '' he told Vatican Radio . The report follows a hearing last month where Vatican officials were grilled over the church 's handling of child abuse allegations . The Vatican , as a country , is a signatory of the U.N. Convention of the Rights of the Child , and it was the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child that published the report . Clerics have been involved in the sexual abuse of `` tens of thousands '' of children , the report says , and the United Nations is concerned about how the Vatican has handled the allegations . `` The committee is gravely concerned that the Holy See has not acknowledged the extent of the crimes committed , has not taken the necessary measures to address cases of child sexual abuse and protect children , and has adopted policies and practices which has led to the continuation of the abuse by and the impunity of the perpetrators , '' the report states . The Vatican on Wednesday said it will study the report . Tomasi said the church does more than `` other institutions or even other states '' to prevent further child abuse . He criticized the U.N. report for saying the church should accept the practice of abortion . `` This is a contradiction with the principle of life that the convention itself should support , recommending that children be protected before and after birth , '' he said . The report accuses the Vatican of transferring child sexual abusers from one parish to another in an attempt to cover up crimes , placing children at high risk for abuse . `` The Holy See has consistently placed the preservation of the reputation of the Church and the protection of the perpetrators above children 's best interests , '' the report states . Closed-door proceedings have allowed a majority of abusers to avoid criminal proceedings , the report says . A `` code of silence '' within the clergy ensures that many cases of child sexual abuse are not reported to law enforcement , according to the report . Last month , the Vatican acknowledged that close to 400 priests left the priesthood in 2011 and 2012 because of accusations that they had sexually abused children . Since taking the helm of the Roman Catholic Church in March , Pope Francis has told a senior Vatican official to carry out `` due proceedings against the guilty '' in sexual abuse cases . The report also called on the Vatican to make it mandatory to report all cases of suspected child abuse to law enforcement . The report rejected a Vatican argument that it , the Holy See , is only responsible for people who live in the tiny Vatican city-state . The U.N. says the Vatican has supreme power over individuals and institutions under its authority . One advocacy group , the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests , said the report is evidence that Vatican claims of reform are deceptive . It is `` utterly tragic '' that a body like the U.N. must tell the church to kick out abusers , the group said . `` That is , of course , common sense and common decency , '' SNAP said in a statement . `` That the church hierarchy must be told this is damning . '' U.N. committee on sexual abuse grills Vatican officials . Vatican setting up commission against sexual abuse of minors .
Vatican official says the church has done a lot to keep children from being abused . A U.N. committee accuses the Vatican of protecting itself over victims of abuse . The church has used cover-ups to protect its clergy , the report alleges . The U.N. calls for the Vatican to create a system for monitoring children 's rights .