On July 15, the Vatican announced revisions to its 2001 norms regarding, among other grave matters, the sexual abuse of minors by clergy. The revisions codify, or put into a particular order, practices that have been in place for the last nine years and make them part of universal law.

Some media and reports outside of the media have erroneously stated that clerics are removed from ministry with no reference to dealing with public authorities, including law enforcement. An important clarification needs to be made here.  Article 4 of the U.S. Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People says that every instance of abuse of a minor is reported to law enforcement.

As for the church worldwide, a Vatican spokesman stated,  “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.”

According to Vatican officials, the revised procedures issued last week for handling priestly sex abuse cases will allow the church to deal with such abuse more rapidly and effectively, often through the dismissal of the offending cleric from the priesthood. Disciplinary measures will be streamlined, the statute of limitations is extended and child pornography has been defined as an act of sexual abuse of a minor.