Pope hardened Vatican laws against pederasty | Chronic

The dad Francisco Friday decreed a series of measures to strengthen the Vatican's laws against pedophilia, including the possibility of investigations of office, as well as the obligation to judge "adequacy" new employees to treat minors and to report cases of abuse.

The "Motu Proprio" published "on the protection of minors and vulnerable people" is the first concrete step after the meeting convened in February at the Vatican to adjust the fight against pedophilia in ecclesial areas.

The pontifical decree of six articles establishes that members of the Curia and the Holy See are "obliged to submit" to the courts of the Vatican their denunciations in case they have "news or well founded reasons" to think that a minor or vulnerable person has been abused.

In addition, the regulation provides that, for the future recruitment of staff, "it must be determined whether the candidate is able to interact with minors and vulnerable persons".

The new provision will enter into force on 1 June and will also require "spiritual, medical and social badistance, including urgent therapeutic and psychological badistance, as well as relevant legal information" to victims.

The new decree signed on March 26 and released Friday also establishes training programs for staff of the Roman Curia to raise public awareness of abuses and obligations to report possible pedophilia.

Alongside the papal decree, Jorge Bergoglio it ordered new legislation in criminal matters in which it established in 20 years the prescription of cases of pedophilia in the Vatican, from the moment when the badaulted child was 18 years old.

The new law opens the possibility that pedophile crimes are the subject of investigations at the Vatican.

In addition, in the text, Francisco likened cases of child abuse to those committed "to persons in a state of sickness, a physical or mental disability, or in a situation of deprivation of personal liberty which, in fact, sometimes even limits the ability to understand, love or resist the attack ".

In addition, the law established by the pontiff provides for fines of up to 5,000 euros for Vatican employees who omit or delay the reporting of cases of pedophilia, a sentence that can be increased to six months. imprisonment for members of the local police.

The pontiff has formulated the new provisions with the aim "to be pursued as required by law in case of violence or abuse against minors or vulnerable persons".

"That all those who claim to have been victims of exploitation, badual abuse or ill-treatment, as well as their families, be recognized for their right to be welcomed, listened to and accompanied".

In addition to the decree and the new law, Francisco has developed a guide of good practices for pastoral operators that requires "caution and respect" in relations with minors and that "severely" forbids a series of behaviors, among which "violated corporal punishment of any kind", "establish a preferential bond with a minor child" or "ask a child to keep a secret".

The pope's new measures fit into the climate of criticism of his pontificate regarding the management of cases of child abuse by recently convicted priests in Australia, Chile and the United States.

One of the most striking cases of recent months is that of the former bishop of Oran, Gustavo Zanchetta, who shortly before their meeting allegations of abuse in Saltawas sent to Rome, where he held a post in the so-called Vatican Real Estate.