VATICAN CITY
ABC News (Australia)
Roman Catholic bishops should be held accountable if they fail to report suspected sexual abuse or protect children from paedophile priests, a panel advising Pope Francis says.
After holding its first meeting, the new Vatican advisory board says current church laws are out of date.
It says it will develop “clear and effective” rules to deal with the problem.
In a first for the Church, the board – made up of four men and four women – includes a woman who was abused by a priest when she was a child.
Board member Cardinal Sean O’Malley says a person’s rank in the Church should not be cause for special treatment or protection.
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