Years until Vatican tribunal investigates Aussie bishops

Tuesday, June 16th, 2015

A Vatican tribunal to judge bishops in connection with child abuse wouldn’t investigate any Australian bishops until a royal commission has concluded.

Last week, the Vatican announced a new tribunal within the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith “to judge bishops with regard to crimes of the abuse of office when connected to the abuse of minors”.

Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors member Marie Collins sought and received confirmation from the Vatican that the tribunal could deal with retrospective cases of neglect by bishops.

The head of the Australian Catholic Church’s Truth, Justice and Healing Council, Francis Sullivan, said he wouldn’t speculate on whether a hearing would take place involving a local bishop.

Mr Sullivan said “the way the Vatican works . . . it won’t work on speculation or on unsubstantiated claims”.

“It will work on final determinations of courts or commissions of inquiry like the royal commission [on institutional responses to child sexual abuse],” he said.

The commission is expected to conclude its public hearings in early 2017, with a final report due on December 15 of that year.

Mr Sullivan doubted that the Vatican’s tribunal had already started investigating bishops.

But he believed the work would be accelerated under Pope Francis.

Mr Sullivan said Church leaders have been placed on notice that they have a role to do in responding to and preventing child sexual abuse.

If they fail, they will be judged and possibly lose their jobs, he added.

Complaints against bishops would initially be investigated by one of three Vatican departments, depending on the jurisdiction under which the bishops fall, before being judged by the doctrinal tribunal.

The new tribunal will reportedly have lay members, men and women.

Ms Collins, an abuse survivor, believes a similar tribunal would be set up to deal with religious superiors.

Sources