Washington, USA - On the eve of Pope Benedict XVI's first visit to the United States, a sex-abuse victims' organization Monday challenged the United Nations to investigate an alleged Vatican cover-up of priests who used their authority to sexually exploit children. The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) said the UN should investigate the role of Benedict and Vatican officials in the cover-up.
Benedict is to arrive Tuesday evening in Washington, meet with US President George W Bush on Wednesday and address the United Nations on Friday on human rights issues, including the death penalty and abortion.
SNAP had hoped that some victims would be able to meet with the pope during his five-day visit to the US, but SNAP's president, Barbara Blaine, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur