The survivors argue that such measures are necessary to protect children worldwide.

The US policy, often referred to as "one strike and you're out", requires the permanent removal of a priest from ministry following a single substantiated or admitted act of abuse. It was approved during the US clergy abuse scandal which came to light through investigative reporting in The Boston Globe.

However, the Vatican did not introduce this policy. Global survivor networks have urged Pope Francis to implement this approach universally.

In other regions, priests found guilty of abusing minors are often assigned limited ministry roles. Sometimes, they are simply prohibited from presenting themselves as clergy rather than being formally removed from the priesthood.

The proposal stems from a June meeting in Rome during a rare collaboration between survivors and church safeguarding experts. Participants included safeguarding leaders such as Rev. Hans Zollner as well as survivor groups and diplomats from multiple countries.

"Despite Pope Francis' repeated calls for zero tolerance on abuse, his words have yet to lead to any real action" said Gemma Hickey, president of Ending Clergy Abuse and herself a survivor of abuse.

Cultural differences cited

Supporters of the global policy, such as US canon lawyer Nicholas Cafardi, believe applying the US norms internationally would strengthen the Church's ability to combat abuse. "Let's just make it universal law" Cafardi suggested. He noted that this would remove the need for bishops in individual countries to request approval repeatedly.

Yet, the Vatican has resisted a one-size-fits-all approach, citing the need for proportionality and the recognition of cultural differences. This stance has led to lighter punishments in some countries compared to US standards, drawing criticism from survivors and advocates.

Abuse survivors and officials also demanded a clarification about the application and applicability of Vos Estis Lux Mundi, the Vatican document covering abuse, issued in 2019.

Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of BishopAccountability.org, told the National Catholic Reporter that the law's impact has been "insignificant".

"We have no idea how many bishops have been investigated under Vos Estis. BishopAccountability tries to count them, but the information is so vague" she said.

"Safeguarding is not just a legal or organisational matter—it is a moral and spiritual imperative" Rev. Zollner said. "Only by confronting the past openly and taking decisive action can we begin to rebuild the trust that has been so severely broken."

Sources

AP News

Crux

CathNews New Zealand

Archbishop Fernández (pictured) has been accused by critics of attempting to protect the priest.

Fernández has vehemently denied the allegations.

However, in an interview after conducting Mass in La Plata, Argentina, Fernández admitted that he would approach the situation differently if given the chance.

"Today, I would certainly act very differently and certainly my performance was insufficient," he told The Associated Press.

Francis appointed Fernández the archbishop of La Plata in 2018 and recently named him as head of the Holy See's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

This role involves guaranteeing doctrinal orthodoxy and addressing sexual abuse allegations against clergy.

Additionally, Fernández was bestowed with the title of cardinal along with several other religious figures on Sunday.

BishopAccountability.org, a US-based organisation dedicated to documenting abuse in the Catholic Church, has raised concerns about Fernández's appointment as the head of the dicastery.

The organisation alleges that Fernández dismissed the allegations made by minors against Eduardo Lorenzo, a priest in the Archdiocese of La Plata, who was accused of abusing them.

Could have been more attentive to victims

In response to the criticism, Fernández issued a statement to the AP on Monday, refuting the claim that he had expressed disbelief in the allegations.

He asserted that he took steps to distance the priest from the alleged victims.

However, during the interview, Fernández expressed self-criticism and attributed his actions to his lack of experience in a different diocese, having assumed the position of archbishop of La Plata in 2018.

He acknowledged that the church's procedures for handling abuse allegations by clerics were less clear at the time.

Fernández admitted that he could have been more attentive to the victims and should have acted earlier in removing Lorenzo from his priestly duties while the investigation was ongoing.

"I cannot say that I have committed a crime or something against what was established at that time, but that I could have been a much better father, much better pastor and much more efficient. That, of course, I recognise," he told AP.

Demonstrated support for the accused priest

Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of BishopAccountability.org, expressed scepticism regarding Fernández's statements, asserting that claims of ignorance were not credible.

Doyle pointed out that Fernández had demonstrated support for the accused priest on multiple occasions and questioned why he had never reached out to Lorenzo's victims if he truly regretted his handling of the case.

Known as the "pope's theologian" due to his close advisory role to Pope Francis, Fernández is believed to have contributed to the drafting of several important documents issued by the pontiff.

Fernández revealed that he had discussed the criticism surrounding Lorenzo's case with the pope, and Francis had advised him to present an accurate account of what had transpired.

Sources

Religion News Service

Queen City News

CathNews New Zealand

Gustavo Zanchetta, former bishop of Orán in Argentina, was detained immediately and is now serving four and a half years in prison.

Zanchetta denied all charges in the criminal trial, as well as in a separate Vatican investigation. He said he is victim of revenge by priests in Orán with whom he had differences.

Prosecutor María Soledad Filtrín Cuezzo told the court on Thursday that investigators had established the truthfulness of witnesses against the bishop, citing their internal logic, context and precise details.

The ruling is a major blow to Pope Francis, who knew him well, had appointed him bishop and defended him following initial allegations.

"This is a stunning ruling from the pope's homeland. It's a sign that even where the Catholic Church wields power, civil societies increasingly will not tolerate sexual abuse of young adults by powerful figures," said BishopAccountability.org, a US-based abuse tracking group.

According to Argentinian newspaper El Tribuno, problems surfaced in 2015 when a church official discovered sexually explicit images sent and received on Zanchetta's mobile phone.

Then in 2016, five priests made a formal accusation before church authorities. They accused Zanchetta of authoritarianism, financial mismanagement and sexual abuse at a seminary.

Zanchetta stepped down in 2017, claiming "health reasons." Pope Francis removed him to the Vatican and gave him a job in the treasury that manages the Holy See's investments and assets.

Argentinian authorities investigated after allegations emerged publicly in 2019, and Zanchetta returned from Rome to face charges.

The Pope's reluctance to act on allegations against Zanchetta has echoes of the 2018 scandal over a Chilean bishop accused of covering up abuse. Francis initially rejected the accusations before he eventually apologised to the victims.

Sources

La Croix International

The Guardian

CathNews New Zealand

The Tablet

Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta is accused of sexually abusing two seminarians. The seminarians also say he mismanaged the diocese's finances and abused his power.

The bishop was criminally charged in June and could be imprisoned for three to 10 years if he is convicted.

He has been suspended from his position at the Vatican's central bank where Francis appointed him as an "assessor" in 2017.

Argentinian prosecutors have complained Zanchetta failed to respond to repeated emails and telephone calls about the abuse allegations.

The Vatican's apparent protection of Zanchetta has angered prosecutors.

"Despite being suspended from ministry, the Vatican has argued that Zanchetta's ‘daily work' requires him to be in Rome instead of facing trial in Argentina," says Zach Hiner.

Hiner is the executive director of victims' pressure group SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

"This decision is at best questionable and at worst a Vatican-sponsored opportunity for him to flee from justice," he added.

"If Pope Francis was serious about his "all-out battle" against cases of clergy abuse, he would order Zanchetta to return to Argentina and face the allegations against him."

However, Zanchetta's spokesman is criticising the Argentine prosecutors, saying releasing information about the case hurts his image and his presumption of innocence.

Spokesman Javier Belda says Zanchetta is not rebelling by not responding to calls or messages.

Rather, he says Zanchetta has cooperated with judicial authorities throughout the case.

Zanchetta's situation became public just as Francis made an impassioned speech in Bangkok last week on behalf of victims of sex trafficking.

However, Anne Barrett Doyle, of BishopAccountability.org, says: "It's vital that Pope Francis ensures Zanchetta's full cooperation with Argentine civil authorities."

"To do otherwise would put the Pope in violation of his own decree forbidding conduct by bishops that interferes with civil investigations."

"Francis must begin to set an example - especially because his protectiveness toward Zanchetta to date already raises disturbing questions about his commitment to ending complicity by Church officials."

"Francis should not have given Zanchetta safe harbour in the first place, given the bishop's reported wrongdoing in Argentina."

An Argentinian prosecutor of sexual crimes is asking for international assistance in Zanchetta's arrest.

Source

• Catholic News Agency
• The Telegraph
• AP
• Image: Rome Reports