http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/panorama/5389684.stm
Sex crimes and the Vatican
A secret document, Crimen Sollicitationis, which sets out a procedure for dealing with child sex abuse scandals within the Catholic Church is examined by Panorama.
Crimen Sollicitationis was enforced for 20 years by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger before he became the Pope.
It instructs bishops on how to deal with allegations of child abuse against priests and has been seen by few outsiders.
Critics say the document has been used to evade prosecution for sex crimes.
Crimen Sollicitationis was written in 1962 in Latin and given to Catholic bishops worldwide who are ordered to keep it locked away in the church safe.
It instructs them how to deal with priests who solicit sex from the confessional. It also deals with "any obscene external act ... with youths of either sex."
It imposes an oath of secrecy on the child victim, the priest dealing with the allegation and any witnesses.
Breaking that oath means excommunication from the Catholic Church.
The Vatican has refused repeated requests from Panorama to respond to any of the cases shown in the film.
(keywords: sex crimes vatican Roman Catholic church pedophile priests cover-up obstruction justice mafia organized crime ricco act pope benedict xvi investigation bbc panorama cardinal roger mahony BibleOrTraditions )
Sex crimes and the Vatican
A secret document, Crimen Sollicitationis, which sets out a procedure for dealing with child sex abuse scandals within the Catholic Church is examined by Panorama.
Crimen Sollicitationis was enforced for 20 years by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger before he became the Pope.
It instructs bishops on how to deal with allegations of child abuse against priests and has been seen by few outsiders.
Critics say the document has been used to evade prosecution for sex crimes.
Crimen Sollicitationis was written in 1962 in Latin and given to Catholic bishops worldwide who are ordered to keep it locked away in the church safe.
It instructs them how to deal with priests who solicit sex from the confessional. It also deals with "any obscene external act ... with youths of either sex."
It imposes an oath of secrecy on the child victim, the priest dealing with the allegation and any witnesses.
Breaking that oath means excommunication from the Catholic Church.
The Vatican has refused repeated requests from Panorama to respond to any of the cases shown in the film.
(keywords: sex crimes vatican Roman Catholic church pedophile priests cover-up obstruction justice mafia organized crime ricco act pope benedict xvi investigation bbc panorama cardinal roger mahony BibleOrTraditions )
