Pope Francis will meet survivors of sexual abuse during his trip to Ireland Aug. 25-26.

The abuses these survivors suffered at the hands of priests were not crimes of passion, they said, but cold exploitations of control.

A research group aims to hold bishops accountable by compiling publicly available documents and reports on the child abuse crisis.

"We must never stand outside the church to judge her; we are the church. We all are responsible for the church, including when there are problems in the church."

Pope Francis issued a letter to Catholics around the world Monday condemning the "crime" of priestly sexual abuse and its cover-up and demanding accountability.

“I think we need complete transparency if we’re going to get the trust of the people back,” said Erie Bishop Lawrence T. Persico.