Faith

Vatican Sex Crimes Prosecutor to Bishops: Punish Pedophiles or Face Sanctions

Catholic Church Holds Symposium to Address Pedophilia & Child AbuseROME (The Blaze/AP) — The Vatican‘s sex crimes prosecutor has warned bishops that they must follow the church’s laws and standards on dealing with priests who sexually abuse children or face possible church sanctions for negligence.

Monsignor Charles Scicluna spoke Wednesday on the sidelines of a Vatican-backed symposium on clerical sex abuse that is designed to help bishops craft guidelines to protect children and keep pedophiles out of the priesthood.

The Washington Post has more about the event:

The conference, which began on Monday and runs for four days, drew about 200 delegates, more than half of them bishops but also victims, rectors of Catholic universities and religious superiors. Cardinal William J. Levada, who heads the Vatican office that deals with allegations of clerical abuse, said Monday in his keynote speech that over 4,000 cases of sexual abuse of minors had been reported to his office in the past decade as the church toughened its responses. “We are still learning,” he said. “We need to help each other find the best ways to help victims, protect children,” and to educate priests “to be aware of this scourge and to eliminate it from the priesthood.”

Catholic Church Holds Symposium to Address Pedophilia & Child Abuse

Pope Benefict XVI

The conference opened with some intriguing words on Monday, as the church sought to also defend Pope Benedict XVI’s handing of the ongoing scandal. CNN reports:

On Monday, a top Roman Catholic official opened the conference by defending Pope Benedict XVI, arguing that he deserved thanks for his efforts.

Cardinal William Levada said Benedict, before becoming pope, enacted many of the reforms that followed the eruption of the church’s sex-abuse scandal a decade ago.

“But the pope has had to suffer attacks by the media over these past years in various parts of the world, when he should receive the gratitude of us all, in the church and outside it,” Levada said in his opening address to the conference.

At the conference, psychologists have encouraged clergy to trust victims over the perpetrators. Those who rape and molest children lie when confronted with an accusation but victims usually tell the truth, experts told Catholic bishops at a symposium Tuesday.

Abuse victims have long denounced the lack of accountability of bishops who routinely moved abusive priests from parish to parish rather than report them to police or punish them internally. In addition to discussing the psychology behind the victim and perpetrator dynamic, leaders were told that not taking action would have consequences.

Scicluna said doing so was “unacceptable” and that church law provides for sanctioning bishops who are negligent or malicious in doing their job.

Comments (38)

  • Concernd4USA
    Posted on February 19, 2012 at 5:08pm

    This corrupt system has swept this stuff under the rug for centuries and is just now dealing with it. What kind of perverted doctrine allows for the hiding of sex offenders, while saying that priests cannot marry. This unnatural rule imposed on priests and nuns goes against common sense and then human instinct. Several of the apostles were married, Mary had children other than Jesus so what is the problem? The Pope’s start passing down dogma, stating that it is God’s will and then you wind up with a problem where the Pope cannot make a mistake because he is supposedly infallible.Why doesn’t the church live up to past sins, admit that the pope is just a man and start to follow the book they claim to follow. This slippery slope has just gone too far, turn your hearts to God isn’t that what you went into the ministry for?

    Report Post » Concernd4USA  
  • Alecto
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 5:43pm

    Those who aren‘t Catholic and aren’t familiar with Catholic doctrine should temper themselves. Like Thomas More said the Catholic faith is the most difficult to live by, but the easiest to die by. Man that is the truth! There is a profound beauty in Catholic teachings on penance, denial of self, the spiritual perfection which comes from suffering.

    I don‘t expect many people make the connection between Christ’s exhortation to deny ourselves and the practice of celibacy or abstinence? However, I do believe He meant that, too. When we deny our physical nature, our physical needs like food and sex as penance, or forego something in order to please God, or show our contrition for our failings, I do believe we have the power to convert people, to save people if you will.

    Whether you believe in it or not, the Blessed Mother at Fatima said that many souls go to Hell because they had no one to pray for them. What a small sacrifice we make when we abstain from pleasure in this world in order to help someone attain salvation in the next.

    Report Post » Alecto  
    • Concernd4USA
      Posted on February 19, 2012 at 5:17pm

      What history have you been reading? The Catholic church has pillaged countries to fill its halls with gold. They have killed 60 million people because they wanted their possessions. The Nazis killed 6 million Jews and are rightfully looked at as thieves, thugs, and war criminals. The Vatican has killed 10 times as many not including Jewish people that they took the stuff and stored it in the Vatican, and then had to be sued by Jewish families to get it back. D paperboy is right the laws are unnatural, and it is propigated by the supposed infallibility of Popes. Once they make a rule they have to say that that pope was wrong and they do not want to do that so they keep greasing the slippery slope.

      Report Post » Concernd4USA  
  • Fr. Greg
    Posted on February 9, 2012 at 1:53am

    And the Church has never sent anyone to Hell. She merely warns you to the best of her ability of your possible end should you never turn your heart toward Christ with all humility and say you are truly sorry for not living out the faith handed on to you. In the end it is all about Christ’s mercy as our judge that even the righteous fall to their knees and hope for. St. Paul in Phil Ch 3:12-14 hopes with a sense of confidence for that same mercy. How do we compare to him??

    Report Post »  
    • Alecto
      Posted on February 10, 2012 at 5:30pm

      Yo Fr.Greg, I agree we should always reflect on the example set by Christ. We can never, ever live up to that example because he was God. We aren’t. We are bound to fall over and over and over. We should remember to ask forgiveness and resolve to amend our ways. Can I remind the Pope and the clergy that it isn’t in any way shape or form Jesus Christ? Why is the clergy so arrogant?

      My problem with the Catholic clergy is not that they fell, because others have committed such sins. My problem is that there was a conspiracy to cover up which made it worse by foisting pedophiles on unsuspecting victims elsewhere. It demonstrates a conceit, an arrogance towards respect for laws which they reserve only to themselves. I understand, being a dangling Catholic, that the clergy is in a special position. It has a special position of trust which it clearly violated. Without the moral authority based on right actions and respect for that trust and the laws by which we must abide, how can the Church speak out on more crucial moral matters like abortion? Divorce? Human Trafficking? War? You with me here?

      Report Post » Alecto  
  • Fr. Greg
    Posted on February 9, 2012 at 1:41am

    @ D Paperboy, Have you read the bible lately? There are plenty of challenges from Christ that we all fall down at but the call is still there to continue to rise to holiness. Just because you can‘t do it today doesn’t take away the fact that tomorrow is a new day. Yeah, it is difficult to do some of these things that the Church has voiced as a revealed truth but that does not mean they aren’t worth doing. Just because you would end up with 50 kids because you can‘t control your libido doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Just means you haven’t tried hard enough yet. You have to admit that a man who can find that level of control is a pretty powerful man. One might even say a scary man that despite not doing anything wrong might be, let’s say, crucified?? Have the rock (Peter) he builds His church on ‘roll away’ when it get’s tough? Of course he came back to die the same way and some might call that spiritual growth. What he promised and couldn’t do one day, given time, he can do on another. There is still hope for you too my son. Peace.

    Report Post »  
  • jackact
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:03pm

    There are more sex crimes committed daily against minors within the realm of the US Dept of Education by government employees then a decade of reported cases within the Catholic Church.
    Look it up. Start with the state of Florida.
    I believe that you have no choice as a federal/state income tax payer to defer funding of the US Dept of Education based on that fact.
    Faith is free choice.
    And not tax payer funded.
    No one can defend the indefensible but think about the big picture before you point fingers.

    Report Post »  
  • Spirit Warrior Woman
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 6:45pm

    Church laws should NEVER trump state laws, I don’t care what church it is or how big it is. This church, if it was worth a dang, should have turned errant priests over to state legal authorities immediately. Had this happened, more children would have been protected. Allowing a church or any organization to police itself is like putting the fox in charge of the hen house, putting chicks at risk. No common sense farmer would do that, nor would anyone else with common sense.

    Report Post » Spirit Warrior Woman  
  • JEANNIEMAC
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 6:29pm

    Om 2003, John Geoghan, a defrocked priest, in jail for molestation, was strangled by a fellow prisoner.
    This priest, and many other priests accused of molestation, were ordained in the 1960s. It was during this period that the church allowed homosexuals into the priesthood, though a mistaken sense of compassion, with the understanding the priests would be celibate. Apparently many homosexuals took advantage of this, and entered seminaries with the goal of gaining access to trusting young boys.

    Report Post »  
    • BeenThereDoneThat
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 6:47pm

      Similar to the way teachers enter into the public school system, Protestant deviants take pastoral or leadership positions in their churches, and some become Boy Scout leaders, yes?

      Report Post » BeenThereDoneThat  
  • mark85
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 4:49pm

    See what this church is all about
    http://www.skepticspost.com/first-pope.html

    Report Post »  
  • Arcangel Michael
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 3:00pm

    Jesus, I trust in You

    http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/chaplethistory.php

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AySdEJx50Z0&feature=related

    Report Post » Arcangel Michael  
  • TEARS FOR AMERICA
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 2:03pm

    Dark, evil secrets against children sadden God and one day God will say, “Times up”!

    Report Post » TEARS FOR AMERICA  
  • Red1492
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 11:13am

    Finally!

    Report Post » Red1492  
    • ByDawnsEarlyLight
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 12:19pm

      The number one priority in the churches laws and standards should be “Call the Police”.

      Report Post » ByDawnsEarlyLight  
  • lukerw
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 11:06am

    Excellent!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • NewsStud
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 10:18am

    I think the Catholic Church has done a great job in stepping up to fix this problem. Was it too late? Perhaps in many cases, yes. But the Catholic Church was no different than every other organization, youth group and school district in how they handled these cases over the past hundred years. They protected the victimizer and shamed the victim.

    It’s not fair to single out the Catholic Church anymore.

    Report Post »  
  • Stoic one
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 10:14am

    It is my belief that pedophilia exists everywhere within our society and all other societies throughout the world. I was a victim 38 yrs ago. The rapist received no reprisal from me. It is a good thing that this condition is FINALLY being appraised and dealt with. Recovery will be found for those that seek it; speaking of the victims. Pedophiles that are TRULY guilty; personally; I think should regurgitate a splintery full length wooden broomstick, without having ingested said broomstick.

    Report Post » Stoic one  
    • FloridaGrandma
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 3:11pm

      I agree…but also believe no one is above the law. pedophiles ned to be reported to the police first..the bishop second. We all have the responsibility to protect a child…ANY child from abuse.
      As someone who worked with abuse survivors…….and the he*% they went through and continue to go through….they need the validation that reporting the incident can give. Helps take away the shame.

      Report Post »  
  • BeenThereDoneThat
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 9:48am

    As a 64-year-old woman who was sexually abused when I was a minor by a Baptist deacon, then approached in a sexual manner by my father-in-law (a deacon of a Church of Christ church) when I was under 20, and again approached in adulthood by a pastor of a Unity Church, and approached yet again by my boss during the “Mad Men” 60′s, I am here to tell you that sexual abuse is everywhere.

    The horrifying number of credible accusations against the Catholic Church break down to appx 228 per year.

    The three insurance companies which insure the majority of Protestant churches in America issued a report in 2007 that they handle about 260 such cases a year. These numbers only assess the churches which are insured by these companies and do not include 58,500 of the appx total of 224,000 Protestant churches in the U.S. (according to a religious statistical association). Also excluded from these numbers are most “historically black denominations” and “some other groups”, both of which account for “several thousand congregations”. I have no idea if Mormon churches are insured by these companies but I don’t believe they consider themselves Protestant.

    If we leave out the “several thousand congregations” not included in the total Protestant church numbers, and possibly the Mormon churches, we are left with an average of 260 cases per year in about 74% of the Protestant churches. If that average held for all 224,000 churches, the number would be about 351 cases per year

    Report Post » BeenThereDoneThat  
  • s0ck_monkey
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 9:30am

    I’ve been reading articles on here, off and on, for a few months but never registered to be able to post comments until now, so I’m new here.

    With that being said, I have to ask…why is it that figures of leadership and/or authority, Catholic priests in is case, aren’t held to the same standard of law as everyone else? Teachers in California that were arrested for fondling kids in the classroom is an example – they have been arrested (albeit, presumed innocent until proven guilty, etc). But I have yet to hear of a religious figure, be it a pastor at a small church or an Arch Bishop in the Catholic church, actually being arrested for sexual abuse. At least none that I can recall (although I may be wrong – I haven’t researched it yet).

    Does high ranking members of the Church have THAT much pull that sexual abusers can be protected? It would seem to me that ANYONE in a position of power, authority, or leadership should be the ones that especially feel the wrath of the justice/legal system (such as it is), and be made an example of.

    I’m not picking on the Church, mind you. Anyone that engages in that kind of behavior should be punished for it. It just seems like all we ever hear about are the allegations and nothing being done about it.

    Report Post »  
  • Locked
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 9:27am

    I always had a theory that the reasons so many paedophiles were found as Catholic clergy had to do with how they attract new men to the priesthood. Basically, a man has a fetish for children, and turns to God hoping to be cured. He decides that celibacy seems like a worthy sacrifice, and joins the priesthood. But as a priest, he finds himself around children constantly, and despite prayers, the urges do not go away. Thus you find paedophile priests in one of the most dangerous situations.

    Seemed like a good theory until I learned that Protestant churches have just as much (if not more) issues with sexual abuse; it just doesn’t get quite as much media attention. I figure the reason the Catholic church gets the brunt of exposure is two-fold; they’re the largest Christian denomination in the world, and American Christianity is mostly Protestant and has a history of mistrusting Catholicism (remember all the angst about JFK being a “puppet of the Vatican”?).

    In the end, I suppose nowhere is truly safe for our children. Parents need to be vigilant, as do those in positions of responsibility in any church.

    Report Post »  
    • JimL
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 9:43am

      Message to guardian: father (sacrifice centered) is the least likely to abuse; toyfriend (lust centered) is the most likely to abuse.

      Report Post »  
  • cannon12pdr
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 9:22am

    If the church turned the perps over to the authorities once they were found out and gave them the boot instead of covering it up all of this would not have fallen on them. Same goes for any other religious organization.

    Report Post »  
  • taxpro4u03
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 8:42am

    or what…. ‘get excommunicated?’ Revoke their ticket out of hell? — *sigh*

    Report Post »  
  • Nemo13
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 8:38am

    “The catholic church is like a cult !!!” No, it is not. It does however, like all church organizations, have issues with the freaks of society. Let’s be clear: Any organization that has exclusive men, women, or children will have the freak vultures. They come like moths to a flame and hide within to get to their victims. It can be the church, or the boy scouts, or a girls dance school, whatever. They come there. The only way to deal properly is to get medieval on their arses. Make them understand that it will be a grave mistake to go there. This soft hand crap is what brings you to where they all are now.

    Report Post »  
  • Thighmaster
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 8:34am

    What? They expect priests to masturbate like ordinary men now?

    Report Post » Thighmaster  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 8:25am

    Closet homosexuals and pedophiles will always hide behind the celibacy rule…. Its attracting them, and always has…. The catholic church is like a cult !!! Sorry if i offend catholics but that is one sick organization….

    Report Post »  
    • BeenThereDoneThat
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 8:52am

      Educate yourself, please, before posting such an ignorant comment. There is no excuse for abuse in the Catholic Church or in any Protestant church or in our school system or our government or anywhere else. Yet it exists in all areas of our society. Go to the link below for a FoxNews report on this subject.

      http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286153,00.html

      Report Post » BeenThereDoneThat  
    • Dismayed Veteran
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 9:19am

      Well you did offend me. It seems that you take the opportunity to call the Catholic Church a cult in most every story about religion. I am tired of it. I don’t take pot shots at Protestant denominations because I recognize they accept Christ as Savior. I have decided to take off the gloves with Protestants from now on. So you can KMA heretic and apostate.

      Report Post » Dismayed Veteran  
    • Locked
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 9:56am

      Trolls will troll, Dismayed Veteran. Detroit Paperboy is a known Catholic-hater, like The_Jerk is a known anti-Semite and RangerP is a known racist. Instead of falling to his level, just ridicule him and move on.

      Report Post »  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 11:43am

      Sorry, i dont hate catholics, i went to a catholic school, i just think the celibacy thing is not normal, these peoples sexual desires always come out. Period, and i think they should allow priests to marry so they can get some normalcy in the priesthood, they are attracting some people who are sexual deviants, who can hide behind the celibacy rule… Sorry again if your offended…. But so were a lot of alter boys families offended…. And yes , i also dont agree with their stand on birth control…. so everytime you have sex you risk pregnency ? Come on folks, really ? Its not realistic, and 80% of catholics use birth control, does that mean they go to hell ?

      Report Post »  
    • Dudley Do-Right
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 3:28pm

      Ya

      Report Post »  

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