- “The crimes of sexual abuse offend our Lord, causing physical, psychological and spiritual harm to the victims and harming the community of the faithful,” the pope wrote.
- The most important change in the document is the extension of the norms regarding the responsibility of bishops and other superiors of religious congregations
- In the updated version of “Vos estis lux mundi” there is a specific recommendation that dioceses and eparchies set up “bodies and offices” to deal with signals of abuse
- More important information can be found on the Onet home page
The Vatican explained that after four years of “experiments, consulted with the episcopates and dicasteries of the Roman Curia”, the Pope definitively confirms and announces all procedures.
The most significant novelty of the document is the extension of the norms regarding the responsibility of bishops and superiors of religious congregations also to lay moderators of international associations of the faithful recognized by the Holy See.
The new version of the apostolic letter “Vos estis lux mundi” comes into force on April 30 and “confirms the will to continue the fight against crimes” of abuse, the Vatican stressed.
The pope wrote in a letter: “The crimes of sexual abuse offend Our Lord, causing physical, psychological and spiritual damage to the victims, and harming the community of the faithful. For such phenomena, in whatever form, to stop happening again, a continuous and profound conversion of hearts is needed, confirmed by concrete and effective actions that involve everyone in the Church, so that personal holiness and moral commitment can contribute to promoting the full credibility of the Gospel proclamation and the effectiveness of the Church’s mission.
The document also includes other changes to harmonize procedures against abuse with the standards introduced from 2019. These include the standard on vulnerable adults.
The Vatican memo notes that while the earlier version referred to “sexual acts with a minor or vulnerable person”, the new version states “a crime against the fourth commandment of the Decalogue committed with a minor or with a person who usually uses reason imperfectly or with a vulnerable adult.”
The next change concerns the protection of people who report a signal of alleged abuse. Previously, it was written that no obligation to remain silent could be imposed on such a person, now it was added that this protection is to be extended not only to the reporting person, but also to the person who “claims to have been harmed and to witnesses”.
The section asking for “reasonable protection of the reputation and private sphere of all those involved” has been expanded and the principle of the presumption of innocence of those under investigation pending determination of responsibility has been extended.
In the updated version of “Vos estis lux mundi” there is a specific recommendation that dioceses and eparchies set up “bodies and offices” to deal with signals of abuse.
The text from four years ago was more vague about the need for “stable systems” – easily accessible – where reports of abuse could be received. It was also specified that the task of carrying out the investigation rests with the bishop of the place where the reported facts allegedly took place.