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| Pope Francis |
Photo courtesy: Conde Nast Traveller
Pope Francis, on May 9, in his Motu Proprio -- termed Vox estis lux mundi [You are the light of the world] -- issued a landmark new decree making it mandatory for priests and Religious (Brothers and nuns) to report incidents of sex abuse or cover-ups to Bishops and superiors, saying, "The crimes of sexual abuse offend Our Lord, cause physical, psychological and spiritual damage to the victims and harm the community of the faithful." This decree comes into effect on June 1 and will initially continue to be effective on an experimental basis for the next three years.
The decree is divided into 19 articles enumerating the do's and don'ts.
Each of the Catholic dioceses of the world is to set up clear, accessible, and confidential reporting systems by June 2020.
Priests and superiors of Religious communities are to report all suspicion of abuse by clerics at any level.
Bishops will be directly accountable for sexual abuse and any cover-ups.
Any sexual abuse or cover-up admitted during the sacrament of confession, will, however, remain exempt from the new law.
From now on, accusers and whistleblowers, for the first time, will receive Church protection.
A boy or girl will be considered a minor if he or she is under the age of 18. This new age of minority has been raised from 16 to 18 years. The term 'child sex abuse' in the Catholic Church, from now on, will mean the sexual abuse of a boy or girl who is under the age of 18.
It is also mentioned that victims reporting abuse must be welcomed, listened to and supported by the hierarchy, and necessary spiritual, medical, and psychological assistance be given to them.
The law can be applied retroactively so that priests and nuns can report sexual abuse or cover-up incidents that happened years ago. This will no doubt increase the number of cases dramatically in coming future.
In his reaction, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, head of the Vatican's Congregation for Bishops, said: "We have said for years that priests should follow certain strict rules, so why should bishops and other members of the church hierarchy be exempt?" -- reports the Guardian.
Archbishop Charles Scicluna, Vatican's top sex crimes investigator, said: "Pople must know that bishops are at the service of the people. They are not above the law, and if they do wrong, they must be reported."
Cardinal DiNardo, the head of the U.S. Bishops' Conference welcomed the new decree and said that the edict was a "blessing that will empower the church everywhere to bring predators to justice no matter what rank they hold in the church."
For further details, kindly read the following:
The decree is divided into 19 articles enumerating the do's and don'ts.
Each of the Catholic dioceses of the world is to set up clear, accessible, and confidential reporting systems by June 2020.
Priests and superiors of Religious communities are to report all suspicion of abuse by clerics at any level.
Bishops will be directly accountable for sexual abuse and any cover-ups.
Any sexual abuse or cover-up admitted during the sacrament of confession, will, however, remain exempt from the new law.
From now on, accusers and whistleblowers, for the first time, will receive Church protection.
A boy or girl will be considered a minor if he or she is under the age of 18. This new age of minority has been raised from 16 to 18 years. The term 'child sex abuse' in the Catholic Church, from now on, will mean the sexual abuse of a boy or girl who is under the age of 18.
It is also mentioned that victims reporting abuse must be welcomed, listened to and supported by the hierarchy, and necessary spiritual, medical, and psychological assistance be given to them.
The law can be applied retroactively so that priests and nuns can report sexual abuse or cover-up incidents that happened years ago. This will no doubt increase the number of cases dramatically in coming future.
In his reaction, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, head of the Vatican's Congregation for Bishops, said: "We have said for years that priests should follow certain strict rules, so why should bishops and other members of the church hierarchy be exempt?" -- reports the Guardian.
Archbishop Charles Scicluna, Vatican's top sex crimes investigator, said: "Pople must know that bishops are at the service of the people. They are not above the law, and if they do wrong, they must be reported."
Cardinal DiNardo, the head of the U.S. Bishops' Conference welcomed the new decree and said that the edict was a "blessing that will empower the church everywhere to bring predators to justice no matter what rank they hold in the church."
For further details, kindly read the following:
- New norms for the whole Church against those who abuse or cover up (May 9, 2019)
- Pope Francis issues new law to force clergy to report sex abuse (May 9, 2019)
- Pope decrees bishops must be directly accountable for sex abuse or cover-ups (May 9, 2019)
- Pope Francis mandates clergy abuse reporting worldwide, empowers archbishops to do investigations (May 9, 2019)
- Pope issues law to force priests and nuns to report sexual abuse (All Catholic priests and nuns will be required to report abuse and cover-ups by superiors) (May 9, 2019)
- Pope issues global standards for reporting, investigating clergy abuse (May 9, 2019)
- Pope Issues First Rules for Catholic Church Worldwide to Report Sex Abuse (May 9, 2019)
- Vatican issues norms for reports of abuse of minors, seminarians, and religious (May 9, 2019)
- Pope Decrees First Global Rules for Reporting Abuse (May 9, 2019)
- Pope issues new law requiring priests, nuns to report clergy sex abuse, cover-ups (Law offers protections for whistleblowers, but does not require them to report to police) (May 9, 2019)
- Pope's new norms on sex abuse leave power in hands of bishops (May 9, 2019)
- Pope's new app for fighting abuse is glitzy, but what about the OS? (May 9, 2019)
- Pope Francis issues law forcing clergy to report sexual abuse (May 9, 2019)
- New rules on abuse mark a major step forward (May 9, 2019)
- [Video] Pope Francis sets new rules to report sexual abuse (May 9, 2019)
- [Video] Meeting point on Pope Francis' Motu proprio regarding the fight against abuse (May 9, 2019)
- Catholic leaders welcome Pope Francis' new rules on reporting sex abuse (May 9, 2019)
- Apostolic letter issued Motu Proprio by the Supreme Pontiff Francis: Vos estis lux mundi [You are the light of the world] (Vatican: May 7, 2019) [Full Text]
- Archbishop Scicluna: 'How I would explain the Motu proprio to my flock' (May 9, 2019)
- Pope Francis' new sex abuse rules are a revolution for the Catholic Church (May 10, 2019)
- President of U.S. Bishops' Conference Issues Statement on Pope Francis' Motu Proprio Ordering Worldwide Response to the Evil of Sexual Abuse (May 9, 2019)
- Analysis: How the new norms to tackle abuse will work (May 9, 2019)
- The success of Pope Francis' new sex abuse reporting rules depends on enforcement (May 10, 2019)
- Critics Say Papal Decree On Clergy Abuse Should Include Law Enforcement (May 10, 2019)
- Reactions to new church abuse laws: a good step, but more are needed (May 10, 2019)
- Pope Francis Stops Hiding From the Church's Sexual-Abuse Epidemic (May 12, 2019)
It is noteworthy that Pope Francis, in April this year, issued his first Motu Proprio decree for the protection of minors and vulnerable adults in the Vatican City State and its embassies abroad.
(Updated on May 13, 2019)
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