The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has published revised norms for the most serious crimes in the Church. The new norms were approved by Benedict XVI on May 21. They are aimed at speeding up and making more efficient Church legal procedures in dealing with grave offenses against the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Penance as well as cases of sexual abuse committed by clergy against minors. In particular, changes were made to extend the statute of limitations for such crimes from ten to twenty years. They also include establishing parity between the abuse of mentally disabled people and that of minors, and the introduction of the crime of child pornography: that is, the acquisition, possession or transmission of images by a priest of pornography involving children under 14. The new document also reaffirms the principle of confidentiality during the legal process, to protect the dignity of all persons involved

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has published revised norms for the most serious crimes in the Church. The new norms were approved by Benedict XVI on May 21. They are aimed at speeding...leggi tutto