UNITED STATES
Washington Post

By Abby Ohlheiser and Michelle Boorstein June 10

The Vatican Wednesday announced the creation of a new tribunal for holding accountable bishops who fail to deal properly with clergy sexual abuse.

While the announcement didn’t appear to include new penalties for bishops, some sex abuse experts said it was significant that Pope Francis was firming up the oversight process of bishops, who are traditionally granted wide-ranging powers and autonomy over the affairs in their region.

The new structure will be inside the Vatican’s doctrine-enforcing arm – considered perhaps the most powerful body within the church.

“It’s a major thing because it’s putting bishops on notice. It’s saying: ‘If you don’t deal with this you have to face the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith,’ and no one wants to face the CDF,” said Monsignor Stephen Rossetti, a psychologist and professor at the Catholic University…