UNITED STATES
Newsday
By BART JONES bart.jones@newsday.com
Some advocates for sex-abuse victims on Wednesday hailed as a bold move Pope Francis’ creation of a new Vatican tribunal section to hear cases of bishops accused of failing to protect children from sexually abusive priests.
Others said it does not go far enough, and the Vatican should turn over any evidence of wrongdoing to prosecutors and law enforcement officials.
The pope’s decision, which the Vatican announced Wednesday, is the biggest action the Holy See has taken to hold bishops accountable since the priest abuse scandal came to light in 2002 after reports by The Boston Globe. The scandal rippled through the Catholic Church worldwide.
“I think it’s a wonderful step,” said Michael Dowd, a Manhattan-based attorney who has represented 175 alleged victims, including some on Long Island. “It will have a dramatic positive impact.”
David Clohessy of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priest (SNAP), however, said the measure doesn’t go far enough.
“It’s hard to get excited about yet another internal Vatican abuse panel,” Clohessy said. “While some might find this hopeful, prudent people will withhold judgment unless and until we see complicit bishops being defrocked, demoted or disciplined.”
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