On Tuesday, of this week, the Vatican announced the creation of a special office to address cases of abuse.
The Motu Proprio Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela (SST) dated April 30, 2001, updated on May 21, 2010, outlines the serious offences reserved to the competence of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (cf Articles 1-6), subject to the norms outlined in Article 52 of the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus.
In judging the crimes listed above, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith follows the criminal process, both judicial and administrative (cf Article 21, paragraphs 1 and 2, number 1 of SST), subject to the possibility of submitting the decision regarding the most serious cases directly to the Supreme Pontiff (cf Article 21, paragraph 2, number 2 of SST). It is understood that in cases of crimes against the faith, that the competence in the first instance belongs to the local Ordinary or of the established hierarchy (cf Article 2, paragraph 2 of SST).
Due to the number of appeals and the need to ensure a more rapid examination of these same appeals, upon deep reflection, in the Audience granted to the undersigned Cardinal Secretary of State on November 3, 2014, the Supreme Pontiff, Pope Francis has decreed the following:
1. The institution within the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Fatih of a special College, made up of seven Cardinals and Bishops who may be members of Dicasteries or external to them;
2. The President and the members of the said College are appointed by the Pope;
3. The college is one instance where the Ordinary Session (Feria IV) of the Congregation shall provide for greatest efficiency in the examination of recourses relating to Article 27 of SST, without modification to its competence in the field as outlined in the same Article 27 of SST;
4. If the offender has been accorded the episcopal dignity, his case will be examined by the Ordinary Session, which can also decide particular cases according to the judgement of the Pope. Other cases may also be referred according to the judgement of the College;
5. The College will regularly inform the Ordinary Session of the Congregation as to its decisions;
6. Special regulations will determine the internal operating procedures of the College.
The Holy Father has ordered that the present executive general decree shall be promulgated through publication in l'Osservatore Romano, entering into effect on November 11, 2014, and subsequently in the official commentary Acta Apostolicae Sedis.
From the Vatican, November 3, 2014
Pietro Cardinal Parolin
Secretary of State
Rescript of the Supreme Pontiff, Pope Francis
on the establishment of a College
within the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
for the examination of appeals by clerics for cases of abuse
The Motu Proprio Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela (SST) dated April 30, 2001, updated on May 21, 2010, outlines the serious offences reserved to the competence of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (cf Articles 1-6), subject to the norms outlined in Article 52 of the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus.
In judging the crimes listed above, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith follows the criminal process, both judicial and administrative (cf Article 21, paragraphs 1 and 2, number 1 of SST), subject to the possibility of submitting the decision regarding the most serious cases directly to the Supreme Pontiff (cf Article 21, paragraph 2, number 2 of SST). It is understood that in cases of crimes against the faith, that the competence in the first instance belongs to the local Ordinary or of the established hierarchy (cf Article 2, paragraph 2 of SST).
Due to the number of appeals and the need to ensure a more rapid examination of these same appeals, upon deep reflection, in the Audience granted to the undersigned Cardinal Secretary of State on November 3, 2014, the Supreme Pontiff, Pope Francis has decreed the following:
1. The institution within the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Fatih of a special College, made up of seven Cardinals and Bishops who may be members of Dicasteries or external to them;
2. The President and the members of the said College are appointed by the Pope;
3. The college is one instance where the Ordinary Session (Feria IV) of the Congregation shall provide for greatest efficiency in the examination of recourses relating to Article 27 of SST, without modification to its competence in the field as outlined in the same Article 27 of SST;
4. If the offender has been accorded the episcopal dignity, his case will be examined by the Ordinary Session, which can also decide particular cases according to the judgement of the Pope. Other cases may also be referred according to the judgement of the College;
5. The College will regularly inform the Ordinary Session of the Congregation as to its decisions;
6. Special regulations will determine the internal operating procedures of the College.
The Holy Father has ordered that the present executive general decree shall be promulgated through publication in l'Osservatore Romano, entering into effect on November 11, 2014, and subsequently in the official commentary Acta Apostolicae Sedis.
From the Vatican, November 3, 2014
Pietro Cardinal Parolin
Secretary of State
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