The Pope changes canon law to explicitly criminalise 'grooming' and priests' sexual abuse of adults
In the Catholic Church's new code, the changes include stricter punishments for clerics who commit or cover up sexual crimes, commit fraud or ordain women.
2 June 2021
Pope Francis has made the most extensive revisions to Catholic Church law in four decades, insisting that bishops take action against clerics who sexually abuse minors and vulnerable adults, commit economic fraud or ordain women.Â
In many ways, the changes published on Tuesday integrate piecemeal reforms that have been made over the years to address clergy sexual abuse and financial scandals that have compromised the credibility of the hierarchy in the eyes of rank-and-file faithful.