Pope Francis added to canon law a corresponding provision against sexual abuse crimes against minors by clergy, the Vatican announced on Tuesday. The addition had long been requested by victims of pedophilia.
The Vatican on Tuesday presented a major revision of one of the seven books of its 1983 canon law, which contains the penalties of the Catholic Church. The changes will take effect in December.
The previous code of canon law provides for the punishment of sexual abuse of minors by clerics under the simple heading of violating the sixth commandment of the Bible (“You shall not commit adultery”). This wording, which refers to non-compliance with celibacy, has been considered out of date and unclear in relation to civil law in view of the multitude of pedophilia scandals in the Catholic Church.