Talk to new bishops does not change guidelines on abuse, Vatican says

VATICAN CITY — A talk given to new bishops during a Vatican-sponsored course does not represent new guidelines on the church’s response to abuse against minors by religious, a Vatican spokesman said.

A 44-page report authored by French Msgr. Tony Anatrella and just published by the Vatican publishing house “is not in any way — as someone erroneously interpreted — a new Vatican document or a new instruction or new guidelines for bishops,” Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi said in a written statement released late Feb. 11.

The talk was part of a conference of experts given in September and was “published together with other (talks) on different subjects,” Lombardi wrote.

Msgr. Anatrella’s talk addressed emotional maturity and deviant behaviors in the priesthood as well as church procedures for dealing with accusations of the abuse of children by clergy.

The monsignor, a psychoanalyst and a consultant to the pontifical councils for the family and for health care ministry, “does not say anything new or different from what has been said up until now by relevant church institutions,” Lombardi said.

The Vatican recently released the speeches, homilies and reflections from last year’s course in a book, “Witnesses of the Risen One.” The texts were published in their original languages.Since 2001, all newly ordained bishops serving in dioceses that report to the Congregation for Bishops have been obliged to come to Rome in September for an eight- or nine-day course for new bishops.

Some media outlets reported that Msgr. Anatrella’s talk, written in French, said bishops are not obligated to report accusations of abuse to authorities.

The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith mandated in a 2011 letter that in every nation and region, bishops should have clear and coordinated procedures for protecting children, assisting victims of abuse, dealing with accused priests, training clergy and cooperating with civil authorities.

The doctrinal congregation said bishops should follow local laws that require reporting cases of sexual abuse to police.

The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors reaffirmed that beyond the mandates of civil law, all members of the church “have a moral and ethical responsibility to report suspected abuse to the civil authorities who are charged with protecting our society.”

U.S. Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston, president of papal commission, issued the written statement Feb. 15, quoting Pope Francis, who said Sept. 27 that “the crimes and sins of the sexual abuse of children must not be kept secret for any longer. I pledge the zealous vigilance of the church to protect children and the promise of accountability for all.”

Cardinal O’Malley reiterated the commission’s willingness to provide educational resources not only to new bishops during their annual course in Rome, but also to all offices at the Vatican.

The U.S. bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” — first adopted in 2002 — outlined how the church leaders would provide a safe environment for children and young people in church-sponsored activities and required dioceses facing allegations made about priests or other church workers to alert authorities, conduct an investigation and remove the accused person from duty.