I'm concerned that it looks like the meetings at the Vatican this week are nothing more than window dressing. The church seems to be intent on avoiding a 'no tolerance' position on abusing minors. Allowing an abuser or those who cover for them to continue to serve the church means the institution will continue the practice that brought it to this point. The point where they have institutionalized criminal activity. No other properly managed institution would allow anything less than a no tolerance policy. Nessel is right - victims should report abuse to the police. In addition I think that anyone in the church who becomes aware of abuse should report the matter to the police. Anything less constitutes child endangerment in my opinion. Link
Until a few years ago the age of sexual consent was 12 in Vatican City. This has been a systemic issue for a long time. The power, access to children, and legal insulation of the Vatican makes it a magnet for predators. I am firmly against trashing the legal immunity of the confessional. I would support any priest who refused to violate it, even for those who have confessed past crimes, so long as they do not imminently threaten lawless action. I do see promising improvements from the Church. Theyd do well to excommunicate their socialist, predator Pope.
