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	Vatican Says Clergy Must Follow Civil Law in Handling Abuse Crimes By Mark Memmott NPR April 12, 2010 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/04/vatican_says_bishops_must_foll.html "Civil law concerning reporting of crimes to the appropriate authorities should always be followed," the Vatican stated today, in what the Associated Press says is an attempt, for the first time, to make clear "that bishops and other high-ranking clerics" should report allegations of clerical sex abuse to the police. But NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports from Rome that "the guidelines do not clarify at which stage of a church investigation the bishop in charge should contact the police" -- something that means victims of abuse and others "are not likely to be satisfied with the buildings" and will demand more accountability from the Vatican: The Vatican's guidelines have been posted here. They begin with this (CDF refers to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a grup of cardinals, archbishops and bishops charged with safeguarding "the doctrine on the faith and morals throughout the Catholic world): "A: Preliminary Procedures "The local diocese investigates every allegation of sexual abuse of a minor by a cleric. If the allegation has a semblance of truth the case is referred to the CDF. The local bishop transmits all the necessary information to the CDF and expresses his opinion on the procedures to be followed and the measures to be adopted in the short and long term. "Civil law concerning reporting of crimes to the appropriate authorities should always be followed. "During the preliminary stage and until the case is concluded, the bishop may impose precautionary measures to safeguard the community, including the victims. Indeed, the local bishop always retains power to protect children by restricting the activities of any priest in his diocese. This is part of his ordinary authority, which he is encouraged to exercise to whatever extent is necessary to assure that children do not come to harm, and this power can be exercised at the bishop's discretion before, during and after any canonical proceeding."
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