Sex Crimes Cover-Up By Vatican?
By Dan Collins – CBS Evening News
Secret Document Told Bishops To Conceal Allegations Against Priests
(CBS) For decades, priests in this country abused children in parish after parish while their superiors covered it all up. Now it turns out the orders for this cover up were written in Rome at the highest levels of the Vatican. Photo - Vatican's Foreign relations
CBS News Correspondent Vince Gonzales has uncovered a church document kept secret for 40 years.
The confidential Vatican document, obtained by CBS News, lays out a church policy that calls for absolute secrecy when it comes to sexual abuse by priests - anyone who speaks out could be thrown out of the church.
The policy was written in 1962 by Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani.
The document, once "stored in the secret archives" of the Vatican, focuses on crimes initiated as part of the confessional relationship and what it calls the "worst crime": sexual assault committed by a priest" or "attempted by him with youths of either sex or with brute animals."
Bishops are instructed to pursue these cases "in the most secretive way...restrained by a perpetual silence...and everyone {including the alleged victim) ...is to observe the strictest secret, which is commonly regarded as a secret of the Holy Office...under the penalty of excommunication." Photo Vatican's staircase
Larry Drivon, a lawyer who represents alleged victims, said, “This document is significant because it's a blueprint for deception.” Read complete article - By Dan Collins – CBS Evening News
Irish Catholic Church covered up child abuse, report says – CNN.Com - November 26, 2009
Pope 'obstructed' sex abuse inquiry – by Jamie Doward – The Observer - 2005
Sex Crimes And The Vatican is on BBC1 - 2006
Pope 'led cover-up of child abuse by priests'| News | This is London - 2006
Pope, Irish bishops plan summit on child abuse - Huffington Post - Shawn Pogatchnik - Jan 20, 2010
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