SCOTLAND
Scottish Catholic Observer
From laicising priests to stringent child safeguarding, the Vatican acts on the problem
The depth of the Vatican’s commitment to end the scourge of clerical abuse has been revealed this week after it emerged Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI had laicised almost 400 priests in his last two years as Pontiff for such crimes; and Pope Francis said people who abused children could have ‘no living relationship with God.’
Documents prepared by the Vatican ahead of testimonies given to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child last week reveal that in 2011-2012 Pope Benedict defrocked close to 400 priests for abusing children, a substantial increase on previous years. The statistics were compiled from the Vatican’s own annual reports about the activities of its various offices, including the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which handles such cases.
In a clear indication he will continue the vigorous measures of his predecessor, Pope Francis last Thursday spoke about the shame of the ‘many scandals’ perpetrated by members of the Church. Those who abuse and exploit others, he added, may wear a Holy medal or a Cross, but they have no ‘living relationship with God or with His Word.’
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