SÃO PAULO (BRAZIL)
Crux
April 15, 2019
By Eduardo Campos Lima
After securing approval from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Brazilian Conference of National Bishops (BCNB), responsible for the single largest Catholic country in the world, has adopted a new handbook containing measures dioceses must take to deal with sex abuse cases.
Published in March, the document is part of a broad effort by the Brazilian Church to deal with the growing social concerns over the sexual abuse of minors.
According to the BCNB, the first version of the text – which is titled The Pastoral Care of the Victims of Sexual Abuse – had been sent to the Vatican in 2012. In the end of 2018, after several changes were made, the document was finally approved.
Future modifications may be applied, depending on possible new canonical and civil legislation.
“The Brazilian Conference of National Bishops, with this document, reaffirms its unconditional adherence to a zero-tolerance stance regarding cases of sexual abuse of minors, according to what Pope Francis has affirmed: ‘There is no place in the Church’s ministry for those who commit these abuses, and I commit myself not to tolerate harm done to a minor by any individual, whether a cleric or not,’” says the document in its introductory chapter.
Although the title refers to the victims, most of the text offers recommendations for dealing with a priest – or other person working with the Church – who has been accused of abusing a child.
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