The scandals surrounding the prevalence of sex abuse in the Catholic Church have reached international proportions: the United Nations has slammed the Catholic Church -- and, specifically, the Vatican -- for its role in the cover-up of the sex abuse, and has called for the Holy See to remove all pedophiles from its rank and file. 

According to Time World, the slam came from the United Nations' agency for children's rights. In the report released yesterday, the committee made recommendations (which, unfortunately, aren't legally binding) to the Holy See that they open up their investigations of the child sex abuse scandals to the public, to "immediately remove all known and suspected child abusers from assignment," and to educate school children -- specifically, children in Catholic schools -- about sex abuse so they can protect themselves and their peers. The committee, which goes on to say that "tens of thousands of children worldwide" have been the victims of sexual abuse at the hands of the church, also suggests that the Catholic Church work in cooperation with law enforcement agencies to bring the pedophiles to justice, and not hide behind the priestly garb.

"The Committee is gravely concerned that the Holy See has not acknowledged the extent of the crimes committed, has not taken the necessary measures to address cases of child sexual abuse and to protect children, and has adopted policies and practices which have led to the continuation of the abuse by and the impunity of the perpetrators," read the report. 

But according to the Christian Science Monitor, the Vatican was "gravely disappointed" in the findings, and reiterated its commitment to children's rights in response. In the same statement, "It said some of the U.N.'s recommendations were 'an attempt to interfere with Catholic Church teaching on the dignity of human person' and 'the exercise of religious freedom.'"

To Pope Francis's credit, he has already set up a commission to look into the epidemic of sexual abuse of children by priests. However, the UN committee feels that the Pope should ramp up his efforts and do more, since this situation has been going on for far too long.