VATICAN CITY
The Tablet (UK)
11 November 2014 by Abigail Frymann Rouch
Pope Francis has set up a new judicial body to deal specifically with the most serious cases of sexual abuse committed by clergy.
The Vatican said today that the college, which will be overseen by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), had been set up because of the large number of cases and the need to deal with them more swiftly.
It will also deal with the abuse of the confessional.
The college will consist of seven cardinals or bishops who can come from within or outside the CDF and will be chosen by the Pope.
The document announcing the new body outlines a special procedure for any bishop accused of grave crimes. He “shall have his case examined by the whole body of members of the Congregation – the Ordinary Session – which may also examine other specific cases upon papal request, and/or examine cases referred to it by the newly created College.”
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