Vatican issues circular on dealing with paedophile clergy

(May 16, 2011) The Vatican has asked all bishops' conferences around the world to prepare guidelines by May next year for dealing with and preventing cases of sexual abuse of minors by clergy, in ways appropriate to specific situations in different regions. The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on Monday issued a Circular Letter to Bishops' Conferences around the world, offering a broad set of principles and indications, which will not only facilitate the formulation of the guidelines and therefore a uniformity of conduct of ecclesiastical authorities in various nations, but will also ensure consistency at the level of the universal Church, while respecting the competence of bishops and religious superiors. Among several consideration in the circular letter are priority to victims, prevention programs, seminary formation and an ongoing formation of clergy, cooperation with civil authorities and the careful and rigorous implementation of the recent canonical legislation on the issue.