Critics slam new Vatican guidelines on sex abuse cases

Published on Monday 16 May 2011 16:52

Support groups for victims of paedophile priests have dismissed new guidelines issued by the Vatican in dealing with the problem, as a fresh case rocked the Catholic Church in Italy.

In a five-page document issued yesterday, the Vatican underlined that sexual abuse of children was a crime and that Church leaders must co-operate fully with investigating police authorities.

Critically, the document reinforces bishops' exclusive authority, saying that independent lay review boards created in some countries to oversee child protection policies and ensure compliance "cannot substitute" for bishops' judgment and power.

In the past there have been suggestions that clergy covered up cases, but the document concluded the "responsibility of sexual abuse by minors by clerics belongs in the first place to Bishops".

Critics pointed out there was still no obligation to report allegations to the police - and in Italy the finger was pointed at a case in Genoa where a priest has just been arrested on child drug and sex charges.

Father Riccardo Seppia, 50, was held by police investigating a drugs-for-sex ring in which he was recorded telling youngsters, including altar servers: "Come on over, I've got some snow."

Police believe "snow" was a codeword for cocaine. They have also pointed out how in the intercepted conversations he tells the victims: "Bring the usual gift, I'm very lonely."

Church leaders immediately suspended him, but yesterday there were claims that officials had been warned almost 20 years ago about his behaviour.

Retired father Piercarlo Casassa said: "I told the Church authorities about him in 1994 but I was ignored.

"People had told me he had a untoward approach with the Scouts and I told the authorities he was not the right person to have around youngsters, but no-one listened to me."

Marco Lodi Rizzini, a spokesman for an Italian victims of abuse group, said: "This document by the Vatican is simply meaningless words - they have been forced to act but it is not enough.

"Just look at the case we have ongoing in Genoa: this priest had already aroused suspicion and he had been reported to the church authorities and they did nothing about it."

Maeve Lewis, of Dublin-based charity One in Four, said: "We welcome the fact there are universal guidelines now in place, but on the other hand there is nothing new in this.

"The idea of co-operation is welcomed, but in the developing world it is going to have little meaning and once again the responsibility is placed on a bishop to decide.

"How can that be? They don't have any expertise or experience in recognising child abuse and it appears to be another case of the Church dragging its heels."

In recent months, the Catholic Church has been rocked by a series of child abuse scandals involving priests in the United States, Ireland, Belgium and Italy.

The new document, drawn up Cardinal William Levada of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, will be sent to all clergy in the world.It says that the Church must listen to the victims and their families, but also stressed that priests were innocent until proven guilty and clergy unjustly accused should be supported to have their "good reputation rehabilitated".

Last year Pope Benedict described his horror at the dozens of sex allegations which hit the Church.

At one stage even he was drawn into the scandal, when he was accused of dragging his heels when dealing with a case involving a priest in his native Germany when he was Archbishop of Munich in 1980.