Hot on the heals of the guidelines published earlier this week by the Vatican Congregation for the Defense of the Faith relative to the abuse of minors by priests, the John Jay College research team, based in New York City published today a report which examined the causes and context of clergy abuse in the United States of America. In short, researchers at that institution have concluded that there is no single cause or predictor of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy.
An electronic copy of the full report is available on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Considering the recommendations of the Vatican guidelines, which call for Arch-bishops to implement them within the next year or so, this is either a well-timed response or a mere coincidence. Regardless, it's a step in the right direction. Similar steps have also been taking place in dioceses throughout this country and others. Each Arch-diocese is responsible for publishing its own guidelines, but in short the CDF is now calling on all national Conferences of Bishops to facilitate the process, effectively recognizing that this is not an isolated incident, but a far more wide-spread reality than may have been first believed.
The Vatican has also posted documentation and commentary on the subject of responding to the reality of sexual abuse of minors by clergy on its website.
In Canada, the most newsworthy case of late concerns the former Bishop of Antigonish who himself pled guilty to charges of possessing child pornography. On May 4, 2011, the CCCB published a statement reiterating the Catholic Church’s long-standing condemnation of the possession, distribution and use of child pornographic images in all forms.
An electronic copy of the full report is available on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Considering the recommendations of the Vatican guidelines, which call for Arch-bishops to implement them within the next year or so, this is either a well-timed response or a mere coincidence. Regardless, it's a step in the right direction. Similar steps have also been taking place in dioceses throughout this country and others. Each Arch-diocese is responsible for publishing its own guidelines, but in short the CDF is now calling on all national Conferences of Bishops to facilitate the process, effectively recognizing that this is not an isolated incident, but a far more wide-spread reality than may have been first believed.
The Vatican has also posted documentation and commentary on the subject of responding to the reality of sexual abuse of minors by clergy on its website.
In Canada, the most newsworthy case of late concerns the former Bishop of Antigonish who himself pled guilty to charges of possessing child pornography. On May 4, 2011, the CCCB published a statement reiterating the Catholic Church’s long-standing condemnation of the possession, distribution and use of child pornographic images in all forms.
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