In 2002, the Boston Globe revealed that thousands of acts of paedophilia had been committed by priests in the Boston region, plunging the American Catholic church into crisis. The Globe investigation revealed that the Church had known about the abuse, which went on for decades, and covered it up. Instead of punishing the priests involved, bishops simply moved them from one parish to another. Over two years, the investigative journalists at the Boston Globe published some 600 articles and a book.
The story resonated across the world and was adapted into the 2015 film, "Spotlight", which won the Oscar for best picture.
But 17 years later, it seems that the clergy has not learned from the scandal. In August 2018, a grand jury investigation in Pennsylvania found that 300 priests had raped or sexually assaulted minors over seven decades.
Today, as several high-profile Catholic figures face justice over similar crimes, what has become of the Boston victims? Has justice been served? And has the Church changed?
FRANCE 24's Fanny Allard reports.
