BOSTON (MA)
Boston Catholic Insider

Boston priest, Fr. Robert Oliver, has been tapped by Pope Benedict XVI to be Promoter of Justice for the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith. You can read the Boston diocesan press release here. The position is akin to a prosecutor in the American legal system. The CDF is charged with protecting Catholic doctrine, but also handles all serious crimes against the church, including the sexual abuse of children, desecration of the Eucharist, violation of the seal of confession, heresy and schism. He will be essentially the Vatican’s chief prosecutor of sex crimes against minors.

Oliver has served as judge and promoter of justice in the archdiocesan tribunal, and he has also advised Cardinal O’Malley on issues including pastoral planning. He was a longtime professor of theology and canon law at St. John’s Seminary. This past year he served as a visiting professor…