Vatican looking for ways to speed up processing of sex abuse cases

Published: 2004-07-01

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Two U.S. canon lawyers are expected to arrive this fall for work at the Vatican's doctrinal congregation, part of an effort to speed up processing of sex abuse cases, church officials said in early July. The move responds to concern by both U.S. bishops and Vatican officials that more manpower is needed to break through the logjam of abuse cases at the Vatican. Since new norms went into effect last year, hundreds of cases have arrived at the doctrinal congregation, which has oversight responsibility for all priestly sex abuse cases involving minors. The congregation has added some staff, but the workload has been described by some as overwhelming. The result is that it may take months to remove even an acknowledged abuser from the priesthood, and longer if an extensive investigation or church trial is involved. Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley of Boston was the latest U.S. prelate to express frustration at what he called the "very slow" pace of processing abuse cases. Speaking to Boston media in Rome, he cited two causes for the lag: lack of Vatican personnel, and reluctance by alleged victims of abuse to share their allegations with church investigators.

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