The institution states that the main responsible parties for evaluating cases of sexual abuse are the bishops of the dioceses where the crimes occur, who must initiate investigations, inform the Vatican and the Justice Department.

Furthermore, during the preliminary phase of investigations and until the case is concluded, the bishop must adopt measures to protect the community and the victims.

"The local bishop has always had the power to protect children by limiting the activities of any priest in his diocese. This is part of his ordinary authority, which he must exercise to ensure that children are not harmed," states the text, released on the Vatican's website.

"Civil law guidelines regarding reporting crimes to competent authorities must always be followed."

Procedures

The rules are not new. They were approved in 2001 and modified in 2003 by the institution responsible for disciplinary matters, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

In cases of abuse, the Congregation can authorize the local bishop to conduct a criminal proceeding before a local ecclesiastical court or open an administrative process. The accused priest must answer the accusations and examine the evidence.

"The accused has the right to appeal to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, but if found guilty, may be sentenced to a number of canonical penalties, the most severe of which is dismissal," the text says.

If the accused priest admits guilt and agrees to live a life of prayer and penance, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith authorizes the local bishop to issue a decree prohibiting or limiting the religious' public activities.

Collective Responsibility

Gian Maria Vian, director of the Vatican's official newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, stated on Monday that the Church as an institution should not be held responsible for crimes committed by its members.

"Responsibility is always individual, not collective," said Vian, who also criticized the press in general for what he considered "low-level" sensationalist work.

"The documents are not read, there is no attention to the content, and there is a habit of taking one word from a speech to use it in another context," he stated.

On the other hand, according to Vian, the scandals are forcing the Church to improve its communication system by providing faster responses.

The institution states that the main responsible parties for evaluating cases of sexual abuse are the bishops of the dioceses where the crimes occur, who must initiate investigations, inform the Vatican and the Justice Department.

Furthermore, during the preliminary phase of investigations and until the case is concluded, the bishop must adopt measures to protect the community and the victims.

"The local bishop has always had the power to protect children by limiting the activities of any priest in his diocese. This is part of his ordinary authority, which he must exercise to ensure that children are not harmed," states the text, released on the Vatican's website.

"Civil law guidelines regarding reporting crimes to competent authorities must always be followed."

Procedures

The rules are not new. They were approved in 2001 and modified in 2003 by the institution responsible for disciplinary matters, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

In cases of abuse, the Congregation can authorize the local bishop to conduct a criminal proceeding before a local ecclesiastical court or open an administrative process. The accused priest must answer the accusations and examine the evidence.

"The accused has the right to appeal to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, but if found guilty, may be sentenced to a number of canonical penalties, the most severe of which is dismissal," the text says.

If the accused priest admits guilt and agrees to live a life of prayer and penance, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith authorizes the local bishop to issue a decree prohibiting or limiting the religious' public activities.

Collective Responsibility

Gian Maria Vian, director of the Vatican's official newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, stated on Monday that the Church as an institution should not be held responsible for crimes committed by its members.

"Responsibility is always individual, not collective," said Vian, who also criticized the press in general for what he considered "low-level" sensationalist work.

"The documents are not read, there is no attention to the content, and there is a habit of taking one word from a speech to use it in another context," he stated.

On the other hand, according to Vian, the scandals are forcing the Church to improve its communication system by providing faster responses.