VATICAN CITY
National Catholic Reporter
Joshua J. McElwee | Feb. 9, 2015 NCR Today
VATICAN CITY
Somewhat cryptically hinting at possible new procedures for handling Catholic bishops who mishandle clergy sexual abuse, the Vatican commission advising Pope Francis on the issue says it is “developing processes to ensure accountability for everyone in the Church.”
The commission, which met for the first time at the Vatican with all 17 of its members this weekend, makes the claim of such new processes in a press statement released Monday afternoon.
Mentioning the word “accountability” four times in the statement, the commission says it is “keenly aware that the issue of accountability is of major importance.”
The commission says one of its working groups is specifically tackling the issue of “accountability of people in positions of responsibility within the Church when dealing with allegations of abuse.”
In their weekend meeting, the commission says, “members agreed on an initial proposal to submit to Pope Francis for consideration.”
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