New standards are a success

This had been the case until 1. June 2020 to be implemented. What sounds like a matter of course is de facto new for 80 percent of the countries of the world, said Jesuit Father Hans Zollner. He made the comments in an interview with the Aachen-based children's missionary organization "Die Sternsinger" (Tuesday online), adding, "This is not a matter of course everywhere where resources are scarce and where attention to this ie is far from being as pronounced."

Abuse of power also an ie

Another important step is the general obligation for clergy and religious to report suspected abuse, the German psychologist said. "And thirdly, it is not only about sexual abuse, but also about abuse of power, thus breaking open the narrow definition of sexualized violence and sanctioning other forms of abuse as well."

Pope Francis had tightened canon law norms against sexual abuse by clergy in May with a so-called motu proprio. The new provisions of the document, entitled "Vos estis lux mundi" (You are the light of the world), will initially apply for three years, coming into force on 1. June in force.

Accountability for leadership

Zollner stressed that the new law also introduces the term "protected adults" into church jurisprudence. "Politically, however, something else is quite crucial:

For the first time, there is an approach to address accountability of bishops and church leaders. This is a great success." Until now, he said, only the pope could sanction bishops. Now subordinate levels would also come into play.

Zollner was appointed in 2014 by Pope Francis to the then newly established Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors from Sexual Abuse. He is considered one of the leading ecclesiastical experts in this field and is president of the "Centre for Child Protection" (CCP) at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.