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Post: Pope expands criminal responsibility for sexual abuse in church to include laypeople

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The Vatican on Saturday published a change to canon law to combat sexual abuse in the church, extending the scope of criminal responsibility to people who run institutions recognized by the Holy See.

In May 2019, a letter issued by Pope Francis to amend the internal law of the universal church (canon law) was published, calling on clergy to report any suspected sexual abuse to church officials.

The text, entitled “You are the light of the world”, asks for a report from Catholic authorities to cover up sexual abuse by priests or monks.

The revised text, which was officially presented on Saturday and will take effect on April 30, confirms and strengthens the provisions announced in 2019.

The text clarifies that if clerics (bishops, priests or monks) are responsible for the bad actions in the institutions they direct, then “the directors of international institutions of the faithful recognized or established by the Holy See”, that is, the laity are also responsible.

Furthermore, the text issued in 2019 focused on “minors” and “vulnerable persons”.

He noted that the production, possession or distribution of “child pornography” is prohibited.

The 2023 edition expands the definition of victim and classifies as a crime any act of aggression committed “against a minor, person incapable of full use of mind or vulnerable adult”.

The papal text asks all dioceses around the world to create a system that allows the public to report cases of abuse. The text details an internal investigation that has been referred to the Vatican for possible prosecution.

Until then, priests, monks and nuns recorded cases according to their conscience.

However, the secrecy of confession remains absolute, as the priest cannot reveal the facts mentioned by the believer in the confession.

Source: EuroNews

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