Pope demands sex abuse claims be reported in Vatican City

Last Updated Friday, March 29, 2019 4:17PM EDT

While the new norms only cover Vatican City State, affiliated institutions and the Holy See's diplomatic corps, they were still symbolically significant and were welcomed by a former seminarian whose case helped spark the reform.The law for the first time provides a Vatican definition for "vulnerable people" who are entitled to the same protections as minors under church law.

The Vatican's own ambassadors have figured in some of the most scandalous cases of sex abuse in recent years, with papal representatives accused of groping, distributing child pornography and sexually abusing minors in their far-flung posts. "With this document the Vatican wants to send a message that it takes these crimes seriously, wants to prosecute them, to avoid cover up, and also to create an atmosphere that prevents these crimes from happening in the first place," said Ulrich Rhode, a canon law professor at Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University.

Many of the law's provisions answer longstanding victim complaints about how they are treated by the church, while also ensuring that the accused are entitled to a defence and efforts to restore their reputations if the claims are not substantiated. Mimicking some provisions in place in the U.S. church, the guidelines require background checks for Vatican staff and volunteers working with minors and calls for safe environment training for all Vatican personnel.

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Pope Francis mandates immediate reporting of sexual abuse allegations to Vatican prosecutorsThe sweeping new legislation is part of a policy shift aimed at being a model for the Catholic Church worldwide Why not police like any other criminal? “Vatican prosecutors”? Why not the real police? Religion is nothing more than child abuse. So they can sweep it under their corrupt rugs like they have thousands of times. I'm 100% certain pedophiles and sickos have known for centuries the best way to access kids of through becoming priests and this current Catholic church is the result.
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Pope mandates reporting of sex abuse claims in Vatican CityPope Francis on Friday issued sweeping new sex abuse legislation for Vatican personnel and Holy See diplomats that requires the immediate reporting of abuse allegations to Vatican prosecutors, a policy shift aimed at being a model for the Catholic Church worldwide. After a thousand years it’s a little late now Ya but it a start now let see how far they are willing to go and do
Source: CTVNews - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »