Vatican laws regarding sexual child abuse more tough
The Vatican made revisions to the law about sexual abuse on children by priests trying to respond to a scandal that has agitated the Catholic Church around the whole globe. Also the Vatican classified “attempted ordination of a woman” to the priest in the Catholic Church as the biggest crime against Church law. The changes made by the Vatican are made for banishing the abusive priests. These changes are the first changes to be made in the last 9 years. “This gives a signal that we are very, very serious in our commitment to promote safe environments and to offer an adequate response to abuse,” Monsignor Charles Scicluna, an official who corrected the norms from the doctrinal office in Vatican. “If more changes are needed, they will be made.”
The limitation for sexual abuse of children has increased to 20 years after the victim turns 18, from 10 years like the old norms said, that means that victims will be able to file a complaint or charges until they are 38 years old.
The statue of limitations is very important because many children who were abused by priests don’t have the courage or support to accuse him until they are a grown and responsible adult.
Father Federico Lombardi said that this could be extended even more in some cases.
This modifications are an update to a document called Motu Proprio which is in Latin and means “of his own accord” that was made by the late Pope John Paul in the year 2001 to deal with serious crimes against the Church law.
Federico Lombardi said that bishops are given Vatican guidance that they should report all the sexual abusers to the governmental authorities.
The abuse of a handicapped adult will be taken in consideration as the person was a minor and if found guilty would lead to the dismissal from priesthood.
The priests that obtains, have in their possession or distribute children pornography will be the same as abusers and would be considered a grave offence to the Catholic Church.
If evidence of sexual abuse is clear and doesn’t need any ecclesiastical trials which cost a lot of money and take much time, the bishop will be allowed to banish the priest. The Catholic Church will be able to dismiss priests by decree if is the same case.
“The attempted ordination of a woman” is codified as a serious crime against the Catholic Church law and conform to an act made in 2007 is in favor of a growing movement which stand for female priesthood. The Church teaches that a woman is not allowed to be a priest because Christ chose only men as his apostles. Defenders of female priesthood don’t accept this saying that he was doing this because he was bound in those times.
These modifications to the norms were developed by the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith where Benedict was a cardinal for 25 years before becoming Pope in 2005.
The changes were made because Pope Benedict is trying to keep under control the damage done to the Catholic Church involving sexual abuse of children. In Europe five bishops have abandon the canonical life over a sexual abuse scandal. One has accepted the accusation of sexual abuse, another is in an outgoing investigation and the other three quit the canonic life.
Pope Benedict said that the Catholic Church would try everything in its power to be sure that these scandals will not happen again, he asked for forgiveness from the victims of child sexual abuse and God.
