Pope orders Vatican officials to tackle child sex abuse scandals

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estesbob said:
Cardinal Law is under the Vatican equivalent of “House Arrest”. He has no power and less duties than the normal Parish Priest. If Civil Authorities found new evidence and charged him he would be extradited in a minute.
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But it’s not just Cardinal Law is it? There were 4 cardinals who participated in the conclave (2 American and 2 Europeans) who have ‘form’ regarding turning a blind eye, moving priests on, and trying to get victims to keep quiet. These 4 men, along with Cardinal Law and at least one other older Cardinal, aren’t (in my opinion) fit to be priests, let alone Cardinals.

Cardinal Keith O’Brien got dealt a raw deal compared to how any of that bunch have been treated, and his sins didn’t involve facilitating child abuse.
JMJSHJ said:
I completely agree with these recommendations but I wonder if the Vatican does as by having Cardinal Law in Italy he is protected from any punishment from civil authorities?
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Sadly I wouldn’t hold my breath on that. It seems that the more senior you are in the Church hierarchy, the more immune you are to repercussions for your actions. I am however hoping against hope that Pope Francis will prove me wrong on this.
Annabelle_Marie said:
Also we need to stop the idealistic “well they can be changed”…very seldom does that happen.
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You are correct. We cannot change the inclinations of such people, but we must send a very clear message that the Church is no longer a safe haven for such behaviour and that anyone found engaging in such evil behaviour, or colluding in it by covering it up (and hence they too are guilty) will be punished as severely as we can.
 
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