• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
The dome of St. Peter's Basilica is pictured at the Vatican July 12, 2019. Pope Francis has given formal approval to a series of updates and modifications that have been made over the years to the norms regarding clerical sexual abuse and other crimes reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Pope approves updates to norms for dealing with ‘grave crimes’

December 7, 2021
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service
Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Vatican, World News

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis has given formal approval to a series of updates and modifications that have been made over the years to the norms regarding clerical sexual abuse and other crimes reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

The newest version of the so-called “Norms on the delicts reserved to the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith” does not introduce any new crimes, but it does seek to improve the procedural norms regarding the penal process and to update those canons connected with the recently revised “Book VI: Penal Sanctions in the Church” that was to go into effect Dec. 8.

The document, published by the Vatican Dec. 7, changes and updates modifications St. John Paul II in 2001 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2010 made to the list of canonical delicts or crimes reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the procedures for handling such cases.

Since then, many new measures have been established: Pope Francis’ document “As a loving mother” in 2016 set out procedures for removing church leaders who mishandle abuse; “You are the light of the world” in 2019 established new procedures for reporting abuse and violence, and sought to hold bishops and religious superiors more accountable; a document in 2019 abolished the pontifical secret in cases of sexual violence and the abuse of minors committed by members of the clergy; and another document in 2019 raised the age to 18 of what constitutes a minor in pornographic images.

The new version of the “Norms on the delicts reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith” includes all those additions.

The norms are now also “harmonized” with the revised section of the Code of Canon Law dealing with crimes and punishments, “Book VI: Penal Sanctions in the Church,” one of seven books that make up the code for the Latin rite of the Catholic Church.

Another change concerns the penal procedure. For example, the 2010 norms said a regular canonical trial was the preferred procedure for the accused, although it foresaw the use in exceptional cases of the option of an “extrajudicial decree,” an administrative process by which the accused is presented with the evidence and given an opportunity for self-defense, but there is no trial.

Now, the distinction between the two processes has been clarified; while still giving priority to the regular canonical trial, it no longer defines a trial as the “usual” procedure and an administrative process as the exception.

The updated norms allow for the possibility of referring directly to the decision of the pope with regard to dismissal from the clerical state or deposition, together with dispensation from the promise of celibacy and from religious vows, even in the most grave cases of heresy, apostasy and schism.

And to strengthen the accused’s right to defense, the time limit for presenting an appeal after sentencing has been expanded from 30 to 60 days and it has established the need for a “patron” for the accused during the trial phase, according to Vatican News.

read more on vatican

Indiana Catholic shares story of his life-changing bond with friend who is now Pope Leo

With an Augustinian in chair of St. Peter, order sees growing interest in vocations

As first U.S.-born pontiff, Pope Leo may be ‘more attuned’ to polarization issue, analysts say

A pope for our time

Religious sisters played role in pope’s formation in grade school, N.J. province discovers

Commission tells pope universal safeguarding guidelines almost ready

Copyright © 2021 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Carol Glatz

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Religious sisters played role in pope’s formation in grade school, N.J. province discovers

  • Baltimore native stirs controversy in Charlotte Diocese over liturgical norms

  • Babe Ruth’s legacy continues to grace Archdiocese of Baltimore

  • The Spirit leads – and Father Romano follows – to Mount St. Mary’s 

  • Radio Interview: Baltimore sports broadcaster shares the importance of his Catholic faith

| Latest Local News |

Words spell success for archdiocesan students

Maryland bishops call for ‘prophetic voice’ in  pastoral letter on AI

Babe Ruth’s legacy continues to grace Archdiocese of Baltimore

St. Frances Academy plans to welcome middle schoolers

Baltimore Mass to celebrate local charities in time of perilous cuts

| Latest World News |

Indiana Catholic shares story of his life-changing bond with friend who is now Pope Leo

Fathers of the Church: The Latin (or Western) Fathers

St. Athanasius, staunch defender of truth at Nicaea and beyond

Many Catholics in autism community see RFK Jr. remarks ‘disrespectful,’ ignorant

As first U.S.-born pontiff, Pope Leo may be ‘more attuned’ to polarization issue, analysts say

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Fathers of the Church: The Latin (or Western) Fathers
  • Indiana Catholic shares story of his life-changing bond with friend who is now Pope Leo
  • The Acts of the Apostles and ‘The Amazing Race’
  • St. Athanasius, staunch defender of truth at Nicaea and beyond
  • Words spell success for archdiocesan students
  • Many Catholics in autism community see RFK Jr. remarks ‘disrespectful,’ ignorant
  • With an Augustinian in chair of St. Peter, order sees growing interest in vocations
  • As first U.S.-born pontiff, Pope Leo may be ‘more attuned’ to polarization issue, analysts say
  • A pope for our time

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en