On July 16, 2010, the Vatican announced new rules directing how dioceses around the world are to respond to priestly sex abuse of children. The statute of limitations of the Catholic Church was extended from 10 to 20 years, from the 18th birthday of the victim.
Possession of child pornography and the abuse of disabled adults were added to the list of offenses that could get a priest reported to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
At the same time, an attempt to ordain a woman to the priesthood was elevated in seriousness to the same category as heresy, schism, pedophilia - a most grave crime.
Possession of child pornography and the abuse of disabled adults were added to the list of offenses that could get a priest reported to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
At the same time, an attempt to ordain a woman to the priesthood was elevated in seriousness to the same category as heresy, schism, pedophilia - a most grave crime.
The new rules do not hold bishops accountable for pedophilia among priests under their charge, nor do the revised rules require reporting of sex abuse accusations to civil authorities.
Here is a link to the new internal rules:
Here is a link to an organization that tracks sex abuse cases by priests, worldwide.
BishopAccountability.org is not impressed with the revisions in the Church's rules, stating that the rules “amount to administrative tinkering of a secretive internal process.”
Pope Benedict, the group said, "could direct bishops to report every allegation of child sexual abuse to the police, regardless of whether civil law requires them to do so. He could threaten punishment of any bishop or church official who enables or fails to stop a child-molesting priest.”
“It’s disturbing that the new rules merely will extend the statutes of limitations rather than eliminate them altogether.”
(See New York Times, Vatican Sets New Rules on Responding to Sex Abuse by Rachel Donadio, July 15 2010)
Pope Benedict, the group said, "could direct bishops to report every allegation of child sexual abuse to the police, regardless of whether civil law requires them to do so. He could threaten punishment of any bishop or church official who enables or fails to stop a child-molesting priest.”
“It’s disturbing that the new rules merely will extend the statutes of limitations rather than eliminate them altogether.”
(See New York Times, Vatican Sets New Rules on Responding to Sex Abuse by Rachel Donadio, July 15 2010)
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