Pope Francis today signed an Apostolic Letter titled
Vos Estis Lux Mundi setting out new procedures for mandatory reporting to ecclesiastical authorities of sexual abuse of minors or vulnerable adults, of involvement with child pornography, and of interference with Church or civil investigations of abuse.
Zenit has a summary, as well as the full text of the Pope's Apostolic Letter and the Vatican's accompanying statement, which says in part:
“Vos estis lux mundi” contains several innovative elements that aim to improve coordination between the dioceses and the Holy See. In particular, within a year all dioceses must establish stable and publicly accessible systems to report cases of sexual abuse and their cover up.
Furthermore, this Motu proprio obliges all clerics, as well as men and women religious, to report to the competent ecclesiastical authorities the abuses of which they become aware. The reported cases must thereafter be promptly verified and handled in accordance with canon law. As for reports regarding Bishops, the Motu proprio introduces procedural measures that, as a rule, charge the Metropolitan of the pertinent ecclesiastical Province with verifying what has been reported. Also established for the first time are time restrictions within which investigations must be carried out, as well as the procedures to be followed by the Metropolitan, who can make use of the specific professional contributions of the lay faithful.
Finally, the Motu proprio emphasizes the care of people harmed and the importance of welcoming them, listening to them and accompanying them, offering them the spiritual and medical assistance they need.
Vatican News reports on the new document.
[Thanks to Tom Rutledge for the lead.]
