The Vatican still isn't protecting Catholic children

The Associated Press has the most clear-eyed report on the Vatican's latest efforts to curb child abuse by Catholic clergy without actually forcing bishops to comply:

The Vatican told bishops around the world Monday that it was important to cooperate with police in reporting priests who rape and molest children and said they should develop guidelines for preventing sex abuse by next May.

But the suggestions in the letter from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith are vague and nonbinding and contain no enforcement mechanisms to ensure bishops actually draft the guidelines or follow them.

That is a significant omission given the latest scandal in the United States involves allegations Philadelphia's archbishop left accused priests in ministry despite purportedly tough U.S. guidelines, and evidence that Irish bishops weren't cooperating with an independent board overseeing compliance with the guidelines of the church in Ireland.

Compare the Vatican's treatment of the former Australian bishop who expressed an openness to women's ordination with its treatment of bishops who knowingly moved abusive priests into position in which they could abuse children yet again.

Posted by Jim Naughton on May 16, 2011 7:40 PM | |
Comments (5)

This story, chazzarai about the Latin Mass, and increasingly uncivil discourse in response to Dr. Phyllis Zagano's letter about women's ordination to the diaconate makes these bleak days indeed for anyone choosing to remain Roman Catholic.

Bleak -- or very exciting, depending on one's perspective. As for me, one day I'm nauseated with disgust; the next, I'm buzzing on adrenalin. I believe in the Holy Spirit. She sure seems to be busy.

Posted by Meredith Gould [TypeKey Profile Page] | May 16, 2011 9:32 PM

Link for this story?

JC Fisher

Posted by tgflux [TypeKey Profile Page] | May 16, 2011 10:42 PM

Added. Thanks, JC. But it is slow.

Posted by Jim Naughton [TypeKey Profile Page] | May 16, 2011 10:54 PM

Meanwhile here are some orders that are compulsory:

1. Bishops have been ordered by the Vatican to compel priests to offer the Latin Mass to anyone who wants it, even if the priest is not equipped to do so.

2. Starting in September UK Catholics must go back to no meat Fridays beginning on the anniversary of Benedict's visit to the UK.

But it's still optional to work with the local secular authorities in sex abuse cases.

Thank God for ecclesial deficits.

Posted by John B. Chilton [TypeKey Profile Page] | May 16, 2011 10:58 PM

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