VATICAN CITY
Deutsche Welle
Pope Francis has established a new tribunal with powers to judge bishops accused of covering up sexual abuse of minors. The move follows years of criticism that the church has failed to punish the guilty.
A statement from the Vatican said the pope would set up a new department that would examine the cases of bishops accused of covering up or failing to prevent child sex abuse by their priests.
The Vatican said Pope Francis had approved the proposals, aimed at making bishops more accountable, after they were put forward by his sexual abuse advisory board.
The statement said the office would be set up “to judge bishops with regard to crimes of the abuse of office when connected to the abuse of minors.”
The unit would be empowered to help prosecutors in criminal cases, the Vatican said.
Church accused of failure
Pope Francis’ decision follows years of complaint from victim groups who claim the Vatican has comprehensively failed to take measures against those who sexually abuse minors.
No bishop has ever been forcibly removed from office for protecting guilty clergy, although Francis did accept the resignation in April of a US bishop convicted of failing to report a suspected child abuser. An Irish bishop, John Magee, also tendered his resignation in 2010 amid allegations of him concealing the crimes of two priests in his diocese of Cloyne.
The Vatican said Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the head of Francis’ advisory commission, presented the proposals to Francis’ cardinal advisers. The panel, along with the Pope, approved the measures and authorized funding for full-time personnel to staff the new office
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