Pope issues law to force priests and nuns to report sexual abuse
All Catholic priests and nuns will be required to report abuse and cover-ups by superiors
Pope Francis has issued a new law requiring all Catholic priests and nuns around the world to report clergy sexual abuse and cover-ups by their superiors to church authorities, in a groundbreaking effort to hold the Catholic hierarchy accountable for failing to protect their flocks.
The church law published on Thursday provides whistleblower protections for anyone making a report and requires all dioceses around the world to have a system in place to receive the claims confidentially. It outlines procedures for conducting preliminary investigations when the accused is a bishop, cardinal or religious superior.