Cardinals
discuss Vatican media and bishops' accountability
(Vatican Radio)
The Council of nine cardinals, comprising Pope Francis’ closest advisors, has
been meeting in the Vatican again this week to discuss a range of issues
regarding the reform of the Roman Curia. In particular the Church leaders have
focused on a planned restructuring of the Vatican media and the difficult
question of accountability for bishops who have not dealt responsibly with
known cases of child sexual abuse.
The so-called C9
group has been meeting behind closed doors with Pope Francis from Monday
morning through Wednesday afternoon, discussing ways of moving closer towards
the drawing up of a new constitution for the Curia. While the head of the Holy
See press office, Fr Federico Lombardi wasn’t setting any definite timeline, he
did say the cardinals hope to be getting close to that goal by the end of 2016.
The group has
been reviewing more than 60 contributions to the debate made by cardinals from
across the globe who attended last February’s consistory, with a particular
focus on the setting up of two central structures, one comprising the Church’s
charity, justice and peace work, the other including laity, family and life
issues.
Regarding reform
of the Vatican media machine, Fr Lombardi confirmed that Lord Patten’s 12
person commission has handed in its final report on general restructuring
principles. Pope Francis is now due to name a new group, expected to include
members of the original commission, to come up with a detailed plan of
implementation for these cost-cutting and closer coordinating measures.
Finally, Fr
Lombardi said that Boston’s Cardinal Sean O’Malley raised the issue of
accountability for priests, bishops or religious superiors who have not dealt
effectively with known cases of clergy sex abuse. Cardinal O’Malley, who heads
the new Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, met on Sunday with
four Commission members wanting to share with the Pope their concerns over a
Chilean bishop accused of covering up for a child abusing priest. While the
Church now has clear guidelines on how to deal with offenders, O’Malley made
clear it must also prioritize the urgent question of how to sanction those in
authority who failed to stop such crimes taking place.
Fr Lombardi said
the further meetings of the C9 will take place from June 8th to 10th, September
14th to 16th and December 10th to 12th.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét