A commission created by Pope Francis has reaffirmed that Catholic
bishops have “a moral and ethical responsibility” to report suspected
child sexual abuse to civil authorities. The advice contradicts a 2015
Vatican training course that told bishops they had no obligation to
report abuse charges to law enforcement under church law. The commission
issued a statement in the name of Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston,
saying, “As Pope Francis has so clearly stated, ‘The crimes and sins of
the sexual abuse of children must not be kept secret for any longer. I
pledge the zealous vigilance of the church to protect children and the
promise of accountability for all.’ Our bishops’ charter clearly states
the obligation that all dioceses [and] eparchies and personnel report
suspected abuse to the public authorities.” |
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