The Pope on Saturday confirmed and
extended the Catholic Church's norms to prevent and counter
sexual abuse against minors and vulnerable adults.
Following nearly four years of experimentation and extensive
consultation with bishops and the Dicasteries of the Roman
Curia, Pope Francis definitively promulgated an updated version
of Motu proprio "Vos estis lux mundi," harmonizing legislative
reforms introduced since 2019 and extending the norms to cover
lay leaders of international associations of the faithful
recognized by the Holy See.
The revised norms will enter into force on April 30.
Francis has taken several steps during his 10-year pontificate
to crack down on sex abuse within the Church and related
cover-ups, although victims' groups say more needs to be done.
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