Sexual abuses covered up, grip of Bergoglio
The Pope updates the procedures to combat pedophilia in the Church. After almost four years of experimentation, having consulted the episcopates and dicasteries of the Roman Curia, the Pontiff has definitively promulgated the procedures to prevent and combat the phenomenon of sexual abuse within the Catholic Churchto. The new version of the motu proprio “Vos estis lux mundi” was published today, which will enter into force on April 30, repealing the previous one of May 2019.
The most significant change introduced in the new version of the legislation concerns the provisions relating to the responsibilities of bishops, religious superiors and clerics in charge of leading a particular Church or a prelature. They have, in fact, been added the “lay faithful who are or have been moderators of international associations of the faithful recognized or erected by the Apostolic Seefor the acts committed” while they were in office.
While the 2019 version spoke of “sexual acts with a minor or with a vulnerable person”, the new one speaks of a “crime against the sixth commandment of the Decalogue committed with a minor or with a person who habitually has an imperfect use of reason or with a vulnerable adult”. Another change concerns the protection of those who submit reports of alleged abuse: while previously it was stated that no obligation of silence can be imposed on the person who reports, now it is added that this protection must be extended, in addition to those who make a report, also “to the person claiming to be offended and to witnesses”. The part where it is asked to safeguard “the legitimate protection of the good reputation and the private sphere of all the people involved” has also been strengthened, as well as the presumption of innocence for those under investigation pending their responsibilities to be ascertained.
The new version of “Vos estis lux mundi” specifies that dioceses and eparchies must equip themselves with “bodies and offices” – the old text spoke generically of “stable systems” – easily accessible to the public for receiving reports of abuses. The task of proceeding with the investigation is the task of the bishop of the place where the reported events allegedly took place.
“The procedures introduced in 2019 – recalls Vatican News – establish precisely how to behave in the face of reports of cases of abuse and ensure that bishops and religious superiors – now also the laity at the head of international associations – are accountable for their work and are obliged – by a universally established legal precept – to report abuses of which they have become aware.The document included and continues to include not only the harassment and violence against minors and vulnerable adults, but also covers sexual violence and consequent harassment abuse of authority. This obligation therefore also includes any case of violence against women religious by clerics, as well as the case of harassment of adult seminarians or novices”.
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