The Roman Catholic Church - Pope Francis news

[Gepetto 985]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4259164/Pope-quietly-trims-sanctions-sex-abusers-seeking-mercy.html

 

Pope cuts penalties for paedophile priests - including one let off with just a lifetime of prayer for abusing five young boys

• Pope Francis said to be applying his vision of a 'merciful church' to sex offenders
• He reduced sentence for Rev Mauro Inzoli from defrocking to lifetime of prayer
• But Vatican spokesman said abusive priests are also removed from the ministry

By Isobel Frodsham For Mailonline

PUBLISHED: 07:53 EST, 25 February 2017 | UPDATED: 19:25 EST, 25 February 2017

 

Pope Francis has been slammed by church officials and sex abuse survivors for cutting penalties for paedophile priests.

The Pope is said to be applying his vision of a 'merciful church' to sex offenders by reducing punishments to weaker sentences, such as a lifetime of prayer and penance.

It has been revealed by church officials that Pope Francis overruled advice given to him by the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith about two priests - allowing them to be punished by a lifetime of prayer.

Pope Francis has been slammed by church officials and sex abuse survivors for giving softer sentences to paedophile priests

He overruled two sentences given by the Vatican to paedophil priests, including Reverend Mauro Inzoli, who was later convicted by an Italian criminal court

One of the priests was the Reverend Mauro Inzoli, who was found guilty of abusing young boys by the Vatican in 2012 and was ordered to be defrocked.

However, he appealed, and in 2014 Francis reduced the penalty to a lifetime of prayer, prohibiting him from celebrating Mass in public or being near children, barring him from his diocese and ordering five years of psychotherapy.

Rev Inzoli was then convicted by an Italian criminal court for his sex crimes against five children as young as 12.

He is now facing a second church trial after new evidence emerged against him.

His predecessor Pope Benedict XVI defrocked 800 priests during his eight-year papacy

A church official has said some paedophile priests and their high-ranking friends appealed to Pope Francis by citing the pope's own words about mercy in their petitions.

They said: 'With all this emphasis on mercy ... he is creating the environment for such initiatives.'

Marie Collins, an abuse survivor and founding member of Francis' sex-abuse advisory commission, expressed dismay that the congregation's recommended penalties were being weakened.

She said: 'All who abuse have made a conscious decision to do so. Even those who are paedophiles, experts will tell you, are still responsible for their actions. They can resist their inclinations.'

 

Many canon lawyers and church authorities argue that defrocking paedophiles can put society at greater risk because the church no longer exerts control over them.

They argue that keeping the men in restricted ministry, away from children, enables superiors to exert some degree of supervision.

But Ms Collins said the church must also take into account the message that reduced canonical sentences sends to both survivors and abusers.

'While mercy is important, justice for all parties is equally important,' she said.

'If there is seen to be any weakness about proper penalties, then it might well send the wrong message to those who would abuse.'

Comparatively, his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, rarely granted clemency petitions and defrocked 800 priests, who had raped and molested children, during his eight-year papacy.

 

According to the church official, Pope Francis also ordered three staffers to be dismissed – two of whom worked for the discipline section that handles sex abuse cases.

Marie Collins, an abuse survivor and founding member of Francis' sex-abuse advisory commission, expressed dismay that the congregation's recommended penalties were being weakened

 

But Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said they will be replaced and staffing is set to be strengthened after the Pope approved hiring more officials.

He said: 'The speed with which cases are handled is a serious matter and the Holy Father continues to encourage improvements in this area.'

He also dispelled rumours that sex-abuse cases would no longer be handled by the congregation, saying the strengthened office would handle all submitted cases.

Mr Burke added the Pope's emphasis on mercy applied to 'even those who are guilty of heinous crimes' and priests who are found to be abusers are permanently removed from the ministry but are not necessarily defrocked.

He said: 'The Holy Father understands that many victims and survivors can find any sign of mercy in this area difficult, but he knows that the Gospel message of mercy is ultimately a source of powerful healing and of grace.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4259164/Pope-quietly-trims-sanctions-sex-abusers-seeking-mercy.html#ixzz4ZrYgdmcL
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[Frozenbeernuts 1,652]

The Catholic Church sucks. Plain and simple. It's all fake outrage by church officials. Up until very recently they hid these monsters and allowed them to keep up their abuse. Now they are outraged? Sure they are.

[Gepetto 985]

Well now the Pope is reducing penalties against the pedophile priests. Sort of the opposite of what a good and just person would do in the same position.

[wiffleball 4,640]

I don't know if this is true or not, however:

 

1) There hardcore traditionalists are pretty damn pissed at him. Recently erecting posters criticising him anonymously throughout Rome. That's unprecedented.

 

2) This Pope actually has been going after the Vatican bank. That's a major No-No - even for Pope. The last guy that did that died very quickly whilst in office. The Vatican makes Andora (look it up) look like George Bailey's Savings and Loan.

 

So, what I'm saying is, this may be a smear campaign - or not - but there's a heck of a lot of enemies this guy's been making. - Not to mention he's the first non-European, which really doesn't help his case.

 

I may actually live to see, what? Six Popes? That too is unprecedented.

[Gepetto 985]

Yea, I just watched a 1 hour 20 minute video on youtube about the reason Pope Benedict resigned, and it delves into their bank situation.

[NorthernVike 2,080]

Fock him. Signed a recovering Catholic.

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

My gf is catholic. I guess I can understand the Christianity in general thing. I mean I don't agree but whatever.

 

But actually believing what the Vatican says matters? I don't get that. They've been shown to be what they are. A money and control organization. They assisted the holocaust and now hide pedos.

[Filthy Fernadez 2,696]

The Left must be confused on this. 'There is no God but we should rehabilitate and forgive these sick focks'.

 

Just kill the pedophiles.

[Hardcore troubadour 12,633]

My gf is catholic. I guess I can understand the Christianity in general thing. I mean I don't agree but whatever.

 

But actually believing what the Vatican says matters? I don't get that. They've been shown to be what they are. A money and control organization. They assisted the holocaust and now hide pedos.

Way to non-chalantly reference your girlfriend. Everyone is so impressed that you have one.

[Alias Detective 1,179]

The pope overrules court sentences?

 

Defrock

[Filthy Fernadez 2,696]

The pope overrules court sentences?

 

Defrock

 

As in 'What De Frock?'

[Alias Detective 1,179]

As in 'What De Frock?'

How bout it. It's sickening, but really, who gives a flying eff if they can still be titled a "Priest or Preacher". So long as the law handles the fockers I couldn't care less what the Vatican says.

[Filthy Fernadez 2,696]

How bout it. It's sickening, but really, who gives a flying eff if they can still be titled a "Priest or Preacher". So long as the law handles the fockers I couldn't care less what the Vatican says.

 

Agreed. They should bring back crucifying people just for this.

[Sho Nuff 719]

Ive been happy with much that has come out of the current pope. This, however, is crap. Those priests should be out and punished to the full extent of the law for their crimes. There is no defense for that.

[jerryskids 5,199]

In the interest of discussing a contrarian position, and based somewhat on my general liking of what Francis has done, I present from the OP:

 

Many canon lawyers and church authorities argue that defrocking paedophiles can put society at greater risk because the church no longer exerts control over them.

They argue that keeping the men in restricted ministry, away from children, enables superiors to exert some degree of supervision.

But Ms Collins said the church must also take into account the message that reduced canonical sentences sends to both survivors and abusers.

 

The conflicting message is a valid point, but Christianity is about forgiveness at its core, and if it can actually help save other children, the Pope may be doing the right thing.

[Strike 3,968]

In the interest of discussing a contrarian position, and based somewhat on my general liking of what Francis has done, I present from the OP:

 

 

The conflicting message is a valid point, but Christianity is about forgiveness at its core, and if it can actually help save other children, the Pope may be doing the right thing.

 

I don't see anything in the article that suggests the Pope/Church is maintaining control of these guys or putting them in "restricted ministry." For example,

 

One of the priests was the Reverend Mauro Inzoli, who was found guilty of abusing young boys by the Vatican in 2012 and was ordered to be defrocked.

However, he appealed, and in 2014 Francis reduced the penalty to a lifetime of prayer, prohibiting him from celebrating Mass in public or being near children, barring him from his diocese and ordering five years of psychotherapy.

 

 

So how are we "safer" from this guy besides the fact that he was convicted in criminal court?

[fandandy 3,311]

So corrupt, and this weaselly ass pope needs to keep his booger hole shut and stop telling the world how to handle their business.

[jerryskids 5,199]

 

I don't see anything in the article that suggests the Pope/Church is maintaining control of these guys or putting them in "restricted ministry." For example,

 

So how are we "safer" from this guy besides the fact that he was convicted in criminal court?

 

Sorry Strike but I don't understand your post, as your quote spelled out Inzoli's restricted ministry, plus 5 years of therapy:

 

 

prohibiting him from celebrating Mass in public or being near children, barring him from his diocese and ordering five years of psychotherapy.

 

If your question is regarding enforcement, that is valid, but the article doesn't go into those details.

[Strike 3,968]

 

Sorry Strike but I don't understand your post, as your quote spelled out Inzoli's restricted ministry, plus 5 years of therapy:

 

 

If your question is regarding enforcement, that is valid, but the article doesn't go into those details.

 

I don't see a restricted ministry in there anywhere.

 

To clarify, I think at best this is very vague as to what they mean by a "restricted ministry". If they gave details on exactly what these guys will be doing I might believe them. But it just looks like they're using excuses to let these guys off to me.

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

Way to non-chalantly reference your girlfriend. Everyone is so impressed that you have one.

You got me. That was the plan.

 

I guess I did because we went to a mass recently. Otherwise I haven't thought about Catholics in a while.

 

If I was looking for look at me I'd do better.

[Gepetto 985]

The Catholic church says they'll keep pedophile priests away from children but then they don't according to adults who were sexually abused as a child, now talking on video saying this happened including giving the name of the priest and that they kept being allowed close to children.