IN 1998 THE then Cardinal Archbishop of Vienna, Hans Hermann Groër, retired to a life of seclusion in a Benedictine monastery after allegations resurfaced that he had sexually molested young boys. While he may have retreated from public life, the cardinal faced no formal penalties nor was there any process in place to assess the veracity of the claims, which had first emerged while he was a serving archbishop.

Fast-forward 20 years and two recent moves by Rome concerning high-ranking prelates show how far things have come. Under Pope Francis, a new culture of accountability appears to be emerging in the Church.