Pope Francis has issued new norms that make it mandatory in the Catholic Church to report clerical sex abuse and those who cover up abuse.
Church authorities must be informed when information is learned about sex abuse, even when the abuser is a bishop or cardinal, states the Motu proprio, "Vos estis lux mundi".
"The crimes of sexual abuse offend Our Lord, cause physical, psychological and spiritual damage to the victims and harm the community of the faithful. In order that these phenomena, in all their forms, never happen again, a continuous and profound conversion of hearts is needed, attested by concrete and effective actions that involve everyone in the Church, so that personal sanctity and moral commitment can contribute to promoting the full credibility of the Gospel message and the effectiveness of the Church’s mission," says Pope Francis in the document.
"Even if so much has already been accomplished, we must continue to learn from the bitter lessons of the past, looking with hope towards the future."
It is good that procedures be universally adopted to prevent and combat these crimes that betray the trust of the faithful, he continues.
"I desire that this commitment be implemented in a fully ecclesial manner, so that it may express the communion that keeps us united, in mutual listening and open to the contributions of those who care deeply about this process of conversion."
The new norms apply to members of religious orders as well as secular clerics and concern "delicts against the sixth commandment".
The motu proprio lists these delicts as forcing someone, by violence or threat or through abuse of authority, to perform or submit to sexual acts; performing sexual acts with a minor or a vulnerable person; the production, exhibition, possession or distribution, including by electronic means, of child pornography, as well as by the recruitment of or inducement of a minor or a vulnerable person to participate in pornographic exhibitions, and conduct carried out by the subjects
Bishops' conferences, dioceses and church councils worldwide have been given a year to set up procedures in line with the new norms.
Making a report against a suspected abuser shall not constitute a violation of office confidentiality, the norms say. "An obligation to keep silent may not be imposed on any person with regard to the contents of his or her report."
Bishops and other church authorities must ensure that those who state that they have been harmed, together with their families, are to be treated with dignity and respect, must be listened to and supported, offered spiritual and medical assistance including therapeutic and psychological assistance, and that their good name and privacy and confidentiality be protected.
In a statement, the Vatican said: "Pope Francis has promulgated the Apostolic Letter in the Form of Motu proprio 'Vos estis lux mundi' concerning new measures to be adopted to prevent and fight sexual abuse committed against minors, against vulnerable persons or abuses carried out with violence, threat or abuse of authority.
"This Motu proprio, the product of reflection and collaboration during and after the meeting of the Presidents of Episcopal Conferences and Supreme Moderators of the main religious Institutes held last February, represents a further commitment of the Church in this area. “Vos estis lux mundi” contains several innovative elements that aim to improve coordination between the dioceses and the Holy See.
"In particular, within a year all dioceses must establish stable and publicly accessible systems to report cases of sexual abuse and their cover up. Furthermore, this Motu proprio obliges all clerics, as well as men and women religious, to report to the competent ecclesiastical authorities the abuses of which they become aware. The reported cases must thereafter be promptly verified and handled in accordance with canon law.
"As for reports regarding bishops, the Motu proprio introduces procedural measures that, as a rule, charge the Metropolitan of the pertinent ecclesiastical Province with verifying what has been reported. Also established for the first time are restrictions within which investigations must be carried out, as well as the procedures to be followed by the Metropolitan, who can make use of the specific professional contributions of the lay faithful.
"Finally, the Motu proprio emphasises the care of people harmed and the importance of welcoming them, listening to them and accompanying them, offering them the spiritual and medical assistance they need. It is our profound desire that this new Motu proprio, accompanied by prayer and animated by conversion, will contribute to eliminating the scourge of sexual abuse of minors and the vulnerable."
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