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.
The Vatican said Tuesday that Pope Francis has signed off on a rewrite of the universal Catholic Church's internal penal system, updating a version in place since the 1980s and laying out clearer penalties for the sexual abuse of minors. The new.
Pope makes changes to church laws regarding sexual abuse katc.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from katc.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Vatican updates church law to criminalize abuse of adults by priests, laity
Pope Francis has changed Catholic Church law to explicitly criminalize the sexual abuse of adults by priests who abuse their authority and to say that laypeople who hold church office also can be sanctioned for similar sex crimes.
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Law also removes much of the discretion that allowed bishops, religious superiors to ignore or cover up abuse
The Associated Press ·
Posted: Jun 01, 2021 1:27 PM ET | Last Updated: June 1
Msgr. Filippo Iannone, right, and Mgsr. Juan Ignacio Arrieta Ochoa de Chinchetru hold a news conference to illustrate changes in the Catholic Church s Canon Law at the Vatican on Tuesday.(Andrew Medichini/The Associated Press)