New appointment to CDF shows Vatican’s concern for clergy abuse

Last updated on: May 19, 2014 at 10:32 pm by CNA Daily News

New appointment to CDF shows Vatican’s concern for clergy abuse 2014-05-19T22:32:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, May 19, 2014 / 04:32 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis’ appointment Monday of Archbishop Jose Mollaghan of Rosario as a member of the Vatican’s doctrine office confirms the Holy See’s continuing response to the sexual abuse crisis.

On May 19 the Argentine bishop was appointed to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, where he will be responsible for a commission, which is being set up, to examine appeals by clergy accused of “delicta graviora,” or “more grave crimes.”

“Delicta graviora” are the most serious crimes in the Church, and most notably include offenses against morality: the sexual abuse of a minor by a cleric, or the acquisition, possession, or distribution of child pornography by a cleric.

Archbishop Mollaghan’s appointment signals Pope Francis’ commitment to continuing the response to sex abuse begun under Benedict XVI and St. John Paul II.

He had been head of the Church’s sex abuse commission in Argentina. He has also served as secretary-general of the national bishops’ conference and the Argentine delegate to the Latin American Bishops’ Council.

Archbishop Mollaghan, 68, was ordained a priest of the Buenos Aires archdiocese in 1971. He holds a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University. In 1993 he was consecrated as an auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese, serving alongside Bishop Jorge Bergoglio.

When Bergoglio succeeded as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Archbishop Mollaghan served under him until 2000, when he was appointed Bishop of San Miguel. He remained there until his 2005 appointment as Archbishop of Rosario.

The new commission is the latest commitment made by Pope Francis against abuse by clergy.

In December, he established another commission to advise him on the protection of children and on how to assist those who have been victimized already.

His predecessors were also greatly concerned with the issue.

Under St. John Paul II, Joseph Ratzinger — who was then prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith — established a strong response to allegations of sexual abuse, which he later continued as Pope.

His efforts began with a 1988 letter in which he shed light on how the procedures laid out in canon law made it difficult for bishops to laicize abusive priests.

In “Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela,” a 2001 motu proprio, St. John Paul II transferred authority for investigating abuse cases from the Congregation for Clergy to Ratzinger’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, so that they could be dealt with more speedily.

Finally, in July 2010, under Benedict XVI, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith presented modifications to canon law that detailed how the dicastery would examine and punish instances of clerical abuse.

Monday’s appointment of Archbishop Mollaghan to the congregation will strengthen its effectiveness in combatting “delicta graviora.”

Aside from sexual abuse of minors, the “more grave crimes” which his office will examine include those against the sacraments — including those against Eucharist, such as profaning a consecrated Host; against Confession, such as violating the seal; and against Holy Orders, such as the attempted ordination of a woman.

Vatican

Previous Post

May 19, 2014

Vatican has strengthened its financial oversight, report shows

Next Post

May 19, 2014 Condolences offered for death of 32 children in Colombian bus fire

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which prophet was exiled to Babylon and saw a vision of four living creatures?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jeremiah Hosea Joel Ezekiel