Critics say Pope Francis' sex abuse reporting law doesn't go far enough

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Victim advocates said that the fatal flaw in Pope Francis’ new mandate that priests and nuns report clerical sex abuse is that it requires the church to police itself, instead of notifying law enforcement.

that priests and nuns report clerical sex abuse is that it requires the church to police itself, instead of notifying law enforcement.

“We're already seeing this 'new' church plan described as 'groundbreaking' and 'sweeping,' but that's irresponsible,” said David Clohessy, the former director of Survivor Network of those Abused by Priests . ”These are promises, plain and simple. They might lead to change. They might not. But children need concrete action, not more pledges from a complicit church hierarchy.”“They just refuse to do so,” he said. “And that's why clergy sex crimes keep happening.

Clohessy said the silver lining in Francis’ latest effort to tackle the sex abuse scandal, which some say has wrecked the credibility of the Roman Catholic Church’s hierarchy — and resulted in the church’s paying millions of dollars to settle lawsuits — is that priests and nuns are required to report even decades-old abuse allegations.

Boston attorney Mitchell Garabedian, who became famous after his attempts to go after predator priests was dramatized in the Oscar-winning movie “Spotlight,” echoed Clohessy’s concerns.

 

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Nobody. Nobody. Nobody mandated to call police. Not teachers. Not doctors. Not nurses. Not priests. May be time to evaluate what we let predators get away with.

Conservative Catholics are fully aware of the Peronist tactics and rhetoric of this heretic Pope. The unequivocal purging of pedophiles, homosexuals, and neo- Marxists from the priesthood and the Curia will be impossible in the short run. It's going to be a battle of Attrition.

Needs to be handed over to an external body for unbiased investigations and prosecutions otherwise still no transparency .

If there is a sexual abuse by a Protestant or Jewish pastor/rabbi - the matter doesn't go to the Denomination Head or Israel Rabbinical leadership - the issue goes to the police. The same must apply to the CatholicChurch. Self policing has not worked for priests.

This pope is a disgrace to the catholic religion

Guess they are going to miss their opportunity to bring back the inquisition?😳

Enabling pedophilic preists.

Well either way the I see it is if you choose to be Catholic then you support child molestation, sex abuse everything else that goes along with it. I don't understand how anyone would be proud to say I'm part of that religion that does nothing about sexual abuse. My opinion

AriFromEarth Same as it ever was.

A semi elaborate method of maintaining control and concealment. No real change.

Who is shocked by this? This church has participated in some of the most horrific events and cover ups in history.

They cannot police themselves

The Vatican is an independent State. The Catholic Church remains independent, free from political influence. Law enforcement will be notified when appropriate.

We must make it a felony to NOT report alleged pedophilia and void the tax-exemption if found systemic. Watch the church fix the problem then.

Place is being run like it's a CULT ! Imagine that !!

Duh! Sherlock is on the job. Jerry Sandusky was almost hanged. Just saying....

unfortunately we have to accept by faith because God has provided..

*Pope's Sexual Abuse Shell Game* *The People's Pope* played the world with the oldest con game on the planet.

Same song, next verse. Anyone who thought this new guy was going to change anything meaningful in that organization was delusional.

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