In a surprising policy change, the Vatican has released new guidelines for dioceses around the world on how to handle allegations of clerical sexual abuse. After thousands of children were mistreated amid decades of cover-ups and payments, the Vatican now urges local bishops to investigate the claims “even if they seem unfounded” and to report them to local secular authorities, even if the country’s guidelines do not require reporting unsubstantiated claims.
The new 16-page document is called Vademecum, which in Latin means “manual” and includes a form for local bishops to complete, which includes advice such as taking vague claims from anonymous sources seriously and “should be properly evaluated and, if reasonably possible, receive all due care. ” “The document also states:” Even in cases where there is no explicit legal obligation to do so, ecclesiastical authorities must inform the competent civil authorities if this is deemed necessary to protect the person involved or other minors from the danger of further harm. criminal acts. ” The document maintains a blind spot, noting that priests who hear confessions of clerical abuse by other priests are not required to report them.
Read it on Vatican news service
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