In what constitutes a pretty sizable change in policy, Pope Francis has enacted a new set of laws that will allow the Catholic Church to shitcan members of the clergy who bungle investigations into abuse – intentionally, or otherwise.
The procedures will give the Church the power to specifically weed out bishops and other big-wigs found to have failed in their duty of care. Previously, the Church was able to nix clergy under the umbrella of negligence, but the new laws explicitly relate to sexual abuse.
According to the Associated Press, Francis said he wanted the laws to focus on a more specific – and heinous – form of negligence. He said bishops “must undertake a particular diligence in protecting those who are the weakest among their flock.”
On top of that, he claimed the fact five paedophilic priests operated under his watch in the 1970s was a massive coincidence. That claim was met with pretty abject horror from some of those abused, who watched him deliver evidence to the Australian-based royal commission into child sexual abuse via video-link in Rome.
While the ferocity with which the Vatican will enact these new laws is unknown, we can only hope the seemingly decent Francis has the balls to eliminate negligent scum from the flock. And maybe enact new laws bringing about the Vatican’s space program, so they can shoot ’em straight into the sun.
Or, at the very least, turn them in to the police. Like, real-deal law enforcement. Or is that too much to ask?
Source: ABC US.
Photo: Franco Origlia / Getty.
