<p>
	Vatican officials are to face questions over clerical abuse of children at a hearing of a UN children&#39;s rights committee in Geneva.</p>
<p>
	The committee will publicly question members of the Holy See at the hearing in Geneva.</p>
<p>
	It faces allegations that it enabled the sexual abuse of thousands of children by protecting paedophile priests at the expense of victims.</p>
<p>
	The Vatican says it continues to receive around 600 claims against abusive priests every year, many dating back to the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.</p>
<p>
	Victims of child sexual abuse by Catholic priests said they hoped the UN scrutiny of the Vatican would finally help to hold perpetrators to account and halt future violations.</p>
<p>
	&quot;Over the years, we&#39;ve struggled to understand why church officials continue to support and cover up for sexual predators,&quot; said Barbara Blaine, President of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP).</p>
<p>
	&quot;We&#39;re hoping that finally the truth will be exposed and, more importantly, the church officials will change what they are doing and that Pope Francis will take action that will actually protect children.&quot;</p>
<p>
	<a href="http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0116/498179-vatican-abuse-un/">http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0116/498179-vatican-abuse-un/</a></p>
