Sex abuse victims list 'dirty dozen' papal candidates

CHICAGO (AFP) - Clergy sex abuse victims listed a "dirty dozen" potential papal candidates on Wednesday and urged the Roman Catholic Church to "get serious" about protecting children, helping victims and exposing corruption.

"We want to urge Catholic prelates to stop pretending that the worst is over regarding the clergy sex abuse and cover up crisis," said Mr David Clohessy, director of the United States (US)-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or Snap.

"Tragically, the worst is almost certainly ahead," he said, adding that the truth of "widespread, longstanding and deeply-rooted" abuse and coverups has "yet to surface in most nations".

The organisation cited a dozen cardinals from the US, Mexico, Honduras, Italy, Australia, Czech Republic, Canada, Argentina and Ghana accused of protecting pedophile priests and making offensive public statements.