Circular Letter from the CDF regarding Guidelines for Sexual Abuse Cases
Monday, May 16, 2011
Posted by: Katie Richards
VATICAN CITY, 16 MAY 2011 (VIS) - Below is the note from the director of the Holy
See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J., regarding
the Circular Letter from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to the
Episcopal Conferences on the Guidelines for dealing with cases of sexual abuse
of minors by clerics:
"The Congregation for
the Doctrine of the Faith has asked every Bishops' Conferences in the world to
prepare 'Guidelines' for dealing with cases of sexual abuse of minors by clergy,
in ways appropriate to specific situations in different regions, by May
2012.
In its 'Circular
Letter', the Congregation has offered a broad set of principles and indications,
which will not only facilitate the formulation of the guidelines and therefore a
uniformity of conduct of ecclesiastical authorities in various nations, but will
also ensure consistency at the level of the universal Church, while respecting
the competence of bishops and religious superiors.
Priority is given to
victims, prevention programs, seminary formation and an ongoing formation of
clergy, cooperation with civil authorities, the careful and rigorous
implementation of the most canonical recent legislation in the area are the
principal considerations that must structure the Guidelines in every corner of
the world.
In recent days, the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has sent to all Episcopal conferences
a 'Circular Letter to assist Episcopal Conferences in developing Guidelines for
dealing with cases of sexual abuse of minors perpetrated by
clerics'.
The preparation of the
document was announced in July, at the time of the publication of new rules for
the implementation of the Motu Proprio Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela.
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