Religious News - Vatican posts pedophilia abuse rules - ArcaMax Publishing
Reporting pedophilic priests to police is mandatory, and defrocking without a trial will be done in the most serious cases under rules posted by the Vatican. The rules were set years ago but not made public until Monday, the Italian News Agency ANSA reported. The Catholic Church has been rocked by ever-expanding scandals, with Pope Benedict XVI personally coming under fire. The pope has been criticized for allegedly stalling action on a self-confessed U.S. predator's request to be defrocked in 1985. At that time, the pope, then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, was the doctrinal overseer. Vatican officials said the rules have been in effect since 2003 when Ratzinger led the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and issued them but did not make them public, ANSA said. Making them public Monday was seen as a shift in strategy as the scandals bring light on the congregation, which Ratzinger led from 1981 until he became pope in 2005. Vatican officials said claims that the pope in his former position covered up or failed to act on allegations of pedophilia were a smear campaign.
A very needed spring cleaning in any organization - opinion
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