Chiesa cattolica e abusi. Il caso italiano fra prevenzione, punizione e riparazione.

The essay addresses the complex issue of sexual abuse committed by Catholic clergy, focusing on the transition from a culture of silence to attempts at prevention, punishment, and reparation. The regulatory reforms initiated by Ben- edict XVI and consolidated by Francis still encounter resistance that hinders the change in mentality necessary to address the failure of traditional canonic law to ensure substantive justice. While acknowledging the efforts made, such as Pope Francis’ Letter to the People of God, the article highlights how listening to victims does not always translate into effective justice, and how canonical criminal reme- dies often operate in parallel with the reparative experience without fully meeting it. Finally, the essay points out the importance of knowing the actual data on the phenomenon and criticizes the attitude of the Italian Episcopal Conference, which appears less proactive than others in commissioning independent investigations that could lead to greater awareness among the ecclesial base, helping the Church to follow more effective models of restorative justice based not only on the pun- ishment of offenders, but also on the care of victims and the recognition of the responsibility of the entire ecclesial community.