Vatican

Updating Canon law on sex abuse cases

A new document from the Vatican, published July 15, 2010, sets forth new, faster procedures for the handling of sexual abuse cases in the Church and other offences against the sacraments including those of sexual abuse. The new document, signed on May 21, 2010, is a revision of norms originally published nine years ago, on April 30, 2001.  

The reason for the revisions in the Canon law norms was to handle “more serious (or exceptionally serious) crimes” (“graviora delicta”).

 (Delictum or “delict” in the English text, essentially means “crime”) The main thrust of the revisions concern those of sexual abuse but other serious offences are also included.

More rapid response

The Pope’s spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, S.J., gave this summary of the reason for the revisions.

“The Norms of canon law dealing with crimes of sexual abuse of minors by members of the clergy originally formulated in 2001 have been published today in a comprehensive and updated form, in a document which covers all the crimes the Church considers as exceptionally serious and, for that reason, subject to the competency of the Tribunal of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. This in effect means that the Vatican will “fast-track” the most egregious abuse cases, some of which may be referred to the Pope himself.

“Apart from sexual abuse, these include crimes against the faith and against the Sacraments of the Eucharist, Penance and Holy Orders,” he said.

Lombardi added: “The Norms concerning sexual abuse make specific provision for more rapid procedures in order to deal with the most urgent and serious situations more effectively. [emphasis ours]

“The revisions also admit lay people into the tribunal staff; extend the statute of limitations from 10 to 20 years; establish parity between the abuse of mentally disabled people and that of minors, and introduce the crime of paedophile pornography.”

“The Norm concerning the secrecy of trials is maintained in order to protect the dignity of everyone involved.”

Lombardi specified that these are internal Church laws and procedures.

“These norms are part of canon law; i.e., they exclusively concern the Church,” he said.

“For this reason they do not deal with the subject of reporting offenders to the civil authorities. It should be noted, however, that compliance with civil law is contained in the instructions issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith as part of the preliminary procedures to be followed in abuse cases, as per the ‘Guide to Understanding Basic CDF Procedures.’”

“The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is also working on further instructions for bishops, so that the directives it issues on the subject of sexual abuse of minors, either by the clergy or in institutions connected with the Church, may be increasingly rigorous, coherent and effective,” Lombardi said.

The changes also updated Church law on other matters, namely delicta contra fidem (crimes against faith), chiefly heresy, apostasy and schism. Specified here are such acts as attempting to or simulating the Sacrifice of the Eucharist, attempting to hear a sacramental confession or give absolution. Violation of the seal of confession and any malicious divulgence of the contents of a confession is dealt with in a separate section of Canon Law.

Media annoyed

Another “delictum’ concerning  the Sacrament of Holy Orders is any attempt to ordain a woman. Placing this in the same category as sex abuses by ordained priets has very much raised the ire of groups like “Roman Catholic Womenpriests,” already formally ex-communicated by the Church but still considering themselves to be Catholics. The inclusion of this offence in the same document as provisions for clerical sex-abusers was seen by these women and some media as “mean-spirited” and offensive (e.g., Toronto Star, July 17, 2010). A Vatican prosecutor however explained the grouping, saying, They are also grave offences against the sacrament of Holy Orders, even though on different levels. They may be compared to the use of “omnibus legislation in Canada, which also include a variety of changes in law.

Holy See and Vatican City in the red

            The world-wide economic financial crisis has also impacted the Catholic Church. Both the Holy See and Vatican City State (2 separate bodies) have reported hefty deficits in their financial statements for the year 2009.

            The Holy See employs 2,762 persons, 766 ecclesiastics, 344 religious (261 men and 83 women), 1,652 lay people (1,021 men and 451 women). This represents the Roman Curia, pontifical representations around the world, as well as its media network of Vatican Radio, L’Osservatore Romano and the Vatican Television Centre. All this financed by donations from dioceses, religious congregations and the generosity of the faithful worldwide.

Australia’s first saint

            The Pope has announced the names of six Blesseds who will be canonized as saints on October 17, 2010.

            Prominent among them will be the first Austalian-born saint, Blessed Mary MacKillop. Blessed Mary was born in Melbourne in 1842, the eldest child of poor Scottish immigrants; she began work at an early age to help support her family, being unable to follow her vocation to religious life until age 24. Work as a governess pointed her towards education and the congregation she founded, the Sisters of St. Joseph, focused on schooling for rural children, including those aboriginals who were interested. Renowned for her kindness and her attention to the Gospel directive “love your neighbour as yourself,” Mary also founded homes for the elderly, for unmarried mothers and for women ex-prisoners.

            Mary McKillop was “a woman ahead of her times” in many respects, such as insisting on her Sisters being under the jurisdiction of the Mother-General of the order rather than of the local bishop: An unintended clash with the Bishop of Adelaide resulted in her actually being excommunicated for several months, a problem resolved when the bishop, on his deathbed, realised his mistake. Mary’s canonization went ahead after the verification of a miracle, the cure of a lady with inoperable lung cancer, attributed to her intercession. Mary McKillop died in 1909. (Zenit)

            The same ceremony will see Blessed André Bessette (Brother André) raised to the altars of the Church. Special celebrations are to be held at St. Joseph’s Oratory, Montreal, in August, his birth month, which will be attended by people from all over North America.

Britain

Update on Pope’s visit

Much ink and lots of hot air continue to be expended on Pope Benedict’s visit to Britian in September. One of the chief reasons for the Pope’s visit is to preside at the September 19 beatification ceremony of Cardinal John Henry Newman.

            The ceremony will be held at Gofton Park near Birmingham, the city in which Newman founded his Oratory and one eager server at the Mass will be Deacon Jack Sullivan’s cure from a spinal disorder happened after praying for Cardinal Newman’s intercession. This miracle was instrumental in leading to his canonization. (Zenit.org, July 27, 2010).

            Despite media sniping and negative attitudes, many people in Britain, even those who are not Catholic, anticipate the Pope’s visit with pleasure, among them Lord Chris Patten whom the Prime Minister has appointed to co-ordinate all aspects of the visit. (Lord Patten, an established public servant and diplomat, was the last British Governor of Hong-Kong). He affirms that all the systems have been set up in such a way that the visit will be “an incredible success.” It is a more complex visit than that of a head-of-state. There will of course be this aspect, for example, the Pope will meet the Queen and government members and will address the British leaders and nation from historic Westminster Hall. But it will also be a pastoral visit to meet and pray with Britain’s Catholics.

            Lord Patten anticipates some protests and criticisms but emphasises that the Pope will also touch on issues of common interest such as disarmament and overseas development while on his visit. (Zenit, July 28).

Cuba

Cardinal instrumental in Cuban amnesty

            After decades of marginalisation and even persecution by the communist regime of Fidel Castro, Cuban Catholics are discerning rays of hope under his brother Raúl, now the President. Many Catholics were among the hundreds of political prisoners locked up for many years in the island’s prisons. One hunger striker had died already this year and another, Guillermo Fariñas, was near death in early July.

            Cardinal Jaime Ortega of Havana, who supports the Ladies in White (wives and other family members of imprisoned dissidents) began a series of mediation meetings with Raul Castro on May 19. They were joined on July 7 by the Spanish and Cuban Foreign Ministers. Following this meeting, the archdiocese announced that five prisoners would be freed to go to Spain and six others transferred nearer to their homes. 47 other prisoners of those arrested in 2003 were to be freed over the next three or four months, all having the option of moving to Spain if they so wish. Señor Fariñas suspended his hunger strike on receiving the news.

            Cardinal Ortega, who sees this development as a very positive sign for his country, made a point of thanking the Spanish diplomat, Señor Moratinos. Spain has been lobbying for better prospects between Cuba and the European Union mainly from the perspective of more economic aid. This would depend on Cuba improving its human rights record.

Spain

Pope’s visit

            Pope Benedict XVI will visit Spain from November 6-7. He will be in Santiago de Compostela on November 6 at the famous basilica of St. James, marking the inception of its Holy Year. Next day he moves on to Barcelona to preside at the opening of the interior of Antoni Gaudi’s famous church, the Sagrada Familia (completion expected in 2026). This ceremony will be attended by the King and Queen of Spain, along with government dignitaries.

Abortion           

            Spain’s new abortion law, permitting abortion on demand for the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, came into effect on July 5, 2010. However, it has not yet been implemented in all regions. It has not been confirmed by Spain’s Constitutional Tribunal. On this basis it is being challenged by the regional government of Navarra and the national People’s Party. (LifeSiteNews.com, July 7).

Venezuela

Continued attacks on Venezuelan Church

            President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela used the occasion of the country’s 200 anniversary of independence, July 5, to step up his verbal attacks on the Catholic Church. He has launched a particular personal attack on the Archbishop of Caracas, Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino.

            Venezuela, a land with many problems, most rooted in economic deprivation, has been ruled by dictator-in-all-but-name Chavez for eleven years during which he has moved the country inexorably towards a Marxist-socialist economy. After an episode of rotting food being distributed through government channels, Cardinal Urosa denounced the Chavez government as totalitarian and interfering unduly in the lives of the people. Chavez came out swinging, among other things accusing the cardinal of supporting his political opponents including the U.S.A.

            Chavez has previously clamped down on these opponents and closed down such institutions as radio stations.

            After his return from overseas, the Cardinal called for an end to the controversy. “My role is to advocate peace and union between brothers,” he said. He was backed up by a Press Release from the Venezuelan Conference of Bishops (July 18). However, on July 21, 2010, Chavez made moves to repossess the Vale TV channel given to the Archdiocese by former President Caldera. He also instructed his Foreign Minister to look into “revising” Venezuela’s 1964 agreement with the Holy See. Last word (July 11) from Cardinal Urosa, who has received support from many sectors of Venezuelan society, was that he hoped good sense would prevail in the controversy. (Zenit, July 7, 9, 11, 19)

            Hugo Chavez has continued to provide examples of increasingly irrational behaviour. On July 22, 2010, he cut diplomatic ties with the neighbouring country of Colombia. This followed Colombia’s presentation at an OAS (Organization of American States) meeting of visual evidence of large bands of revolutionary Colombian rebels camped within Venezuelan borders. Characterizing the Colombian charges as “U.S.-inspired aggression,” Chavez gave Colombian diplomats 72 hours to leave Caracas. (Files from Toronto Sun., July 23, 2010).

            Despite the broken governmental relations, the Episcopal conferences of both countries have expressed their intention to “continue working together, giving witness of fraternity.” Venezuelan Archbishop Santana Sequera urged both governments to greater policing of the border area to inhibit the circulation of insurgents (Zenit.org, July 26, 2010).