French clergy sexually abused over 200,000 children since 1950, report finds

A woman walks into the Saint-Sulpice church in Paris, France, October 4, 2021. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier

PARIS (Reuters) -French clergy sexually abused more than 200,000 children over the past 70 years, a major investigation released on Tuesday found, and its authors said the Catholic Church had turned a blind eye to the 'scourge' for too long.

The church had shown "deep, total and even cruel indifference for years," protecting itself rather than the victims of what was systemic abuse, said Jean-Marc Sauve, head of the commission that compiled the report.