Santa Barbara Attorney Closely Watching Historic Vatican Summit on Clergy Sex Abuse
The Pantagraph
Local survivors of clergy sex abuse and legal experts are following the historic, four day summit happening this week at the Vatican. That includes Santa Barbara Attorney Tim Hale with Nye, Peabody, Stirling, Hale & Miller. "The one thing they need to tell anyone with anything suspicious, they need to go to the police not the church," Hale said to reporter Beth Farnsworth. Hale mentioned the number 21, referring to Pope Francis' list of 21 "Reflection Points" handed out to the assembly of church leaders, which includes preparing a "practical handbook" of guidelines for handling abuse cases when accusations emerge. Hale said the Vatican's 21 "Reflection Points" for the clergy abuse crisis should focus on point 5 which states: Inform the civil authorities and the higher ecclesiastical authorities in compliance with civil and canonical norms. Hale sent us the following statement: "The focus of the Vatican's summit and the recently released 21 "Reflection Points" for the clergy abuse crisis should be on one topic: calling law enforcement immediately when there is any suspicion of childhood sexual abuse. The "Canonical norms" discussed in Point 5 should not be considered, and there should be no suggestion of any report to any internal body of the Church unless it is with law enforcement's agreement. Only law enforcement is qualified and has the power to investigate, arrest, and prosecute perpetrators of childhood sexual abuse. As soon as there is any suspicion of abuse, law enforcement - not the Church - should determine each and every next step in the process. It is a child safety issue that should be the Church's top priority."
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