Catholic bishops not obliged to report clerical child abuse, Vatican says

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Catholic bishops not obliged to report clerical child abuse, Vatican says

Vatican guide says ‘not necessarily’ bishop’s duty to report suspects to police
despite Pope Francis’s vows to redress Catholic church’s legacy of child abuse

Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Rome
Wednesday 10 February 2016 17.37 GMT

The Catholic church is telling newly appointed bishops that it is “not necessarily” their duty to report accusations of clerical child abuse and that only victims or their families should make the decision to report abuse to police.

A document that spells out how senior clergy members ought to deal with allegations of abuse, which was recently released by the Vatican, emphasised that, though they must be aware of local laws, bishops’ only duty was to address such allegations internally.

“According to the state of civil laws of each country where reporting is obligatory, it is not necessarily the duty of the bishop to report suspects to authorities, the police or state prosecutors in the moment when they are made aware of crimes or sinful deeds,” the training document states.

The training guidelines were written by a controversial French monsignor and psychotherapist, Tony Anatrella, who serves as a consultant to the Pontifical Council for the Family. The Vatican released the guidelines – which are part of a broader training programme for newly named bishops – at a press conference earlier this month and is now seeking feedback.

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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/10/catholic-bishops-not-obliged-report-clerical-child-abuse-vatican-says

See also: Catholic Church officials deny responsibility for supervising priests as it faces damages lawsuit

[trotsky]

1. Remember folks, these are the same guys who think they can lecture everyone else on morality.

They and the people who support that corrupt institution can rot in the hell they believe in.

[SwankyXomb]

2. Easter is coming

Be a perfect time to perp walk some of these guys.

[Dawson Leery]

3. Evil organization. 1700 years of corruption.

[mr blur]

4. Yeah and what about the ones who aren't even sure whether or not raping children

is actually against the law? Must be really hard for those poor guys, right, without expecting them to turn each other in?

[Goblinmonger]

5. That's just what the teacher unions say.

Oh, wait, no, we're mandatory reporters.

How anyone can feel the church has any moral authority anymore is beyond me.

[trotsky]

7. Criticizing the RCC = "anti-Catholic bigotry"

There. Done. The church is safe.

[rug]

6. The complete Allen article is here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12216610

[Humanist_Activist]

8. Shouldn't those who fail to report be imprisoned for accessory after the fact?

Why are the Bishops treated differently than the general population.

[rug]

9. That depends on the law in the state where it happens.

It also depends on whether the person is a mandated reporter or not.

Their moral responsibility is something else.

[Humanist_Activist]

11. I guess it would also depend on how involved you are...

and at a certain point, it wouldn't matter if I was a mandated reporter or not.

For example, if a buddy of mine confessed he killed someone, fine, I may not be required to report it, but if I covered for him, for example, by lying to the police, then I can be charged as an accessory. I don't see why a Bishop, if they are involved in moving priests around to different parishes that they know have committed child abuse, why they shouldn't be criminally liable for those actions. Its far beyond mandated reporting at that point, its conspiracy to perpetuate felonies.

[rug]

12. That raises a whole new level of criminal liability.

That was the theory of the prosecution of Msgr Lynn in Philadelphia, and Bishop Finn in Kansas City.

[cleanhippie]

10. And those that enable?

Those that defend, deflect, ignore, and continue to contribute, their moral responsibility not withstanding?

[rug]

13. You must be rrustrated, reduced to throwing rocks over a fence.

It's ok, you can step out in the open and speak.

[Warren Stupidity]

14. "rrustrated" - some people have a tell when they post horseshit.

[rug]

15. I tell by the username, warren.

[Goblinmonger]

16. They talk like Scooby Doo?

[trotsky]

17. LOL I get the feeling I'm missing too much funny shit by using Ignore. n/t

[rug]

18. The discovery of Russell's teapot is as likely as your use of Ignore.

[mr blur]

21. Yeah, me too! (nt)

[cleanhippie]

19. Or projecting.

[randomelement]

20. Matthew 18:6

"And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me;
but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."

The only "training guidelines" these clowns need is to read the book they purport to believe

Unbelievable!

[Iggo]

22. If they know someone who's fucking children, they're not obliged to report it?

Good old catholics! Way to go, catholics!

Way to have your priorities straight!