Vos estis lux mundi

Last updated
Vos estis lux mundi
Latin for 'You are the light of the world'
Apostolic letter of Pope Francis
Signature date 7 May 2019
Text
← La tutela dei minori
 

Vos estis lux mundi ('You are the light of the world' [1] ) is a motu proprio by Pope Francis, promulgated on 9 May 2019. [2] It establishes new procedural norms to combat sexual abuse and ensure that bishops and religious superiors are held accountable for their actions. It establishes universal norms, which apply to the whole church. [3] As an experiment, the norms entered into force for a period of three years, starting on 1 June 2019. The norms were then expanded and made permanent on 25 March 2023, with their coming into force on 30 April 2023.

In its preamble, Pope Francis affirms that:

The crimes of sexual abuse offend Our Lord, cause physical, psychological and spiritual damage to the victims and harm the community of the faithful. In order that these phenomena, in all their forms, never happen again, a continuous and profound conversion of hearts is needed, attested by concrete and effective actions that involve everyone in the Church, [...] Therefore, it is good that procedures be universally adopted to prevent and combat these crimes that betray the trust of the faithful. [4]

The document was issued three months after the sexual abuse summit convened by Pope Francis at the Vatican in February 2019. [5]

History

The law became effective for a three-year experimental period (ad experimentum), coming into force on 1 June 2019. [2] On 25 March 2023, Pope Francis published a decree which made it so a new version of Vos estis lux mundi and its laws would become permanent on 30 April of the same year. The new version contains the same norms as in the 2019 version, but with their scope broadened to include investigations of lay leaders in international associations of the faithful. [6] [7] [8]

Crimes covered

The new norms apply to the crimes of:

when committed by clerics (bishops, priests or deacons) or by members of institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life (religious brothers or sisters), as well as the cover-up of such crimes, when committed by a bishop or by a supreme moderator of a religious congregation. [9]

The norms contained in Vos estis lux mundi are procedural in nature, setting up a reporting system. The motu proprio does not introduce new penalties. The crimes are therefore to be punished in accordance with existing canon provisions. [10]

According to J. D. Flynn:

The document establishes that a broad swath of sexual acts committed by clerics with adults are potentially canonical crimes, and should be treated as such, if they involve "abuses of authority" or "vulnerable persons," a term it defines to broadly include those who are limited in "their ability to understand or to want or to otherwise resist the offense." This is a meaningful development of the Church's law, which has not previously recognized explicitly that implied coercion, abuse of authority, and imbalances of power can render seemingly consensual sexual acts as crimes. [11]

Diocesan reporting mechanisms

The law mandates that each diocese in the world sets up, by June 2020, "one or more public, stable and easily accessible systems for submission of reports" concerning sexual abuse. [1] As noted by Andrea Tornielli, "the legislation does not specify what these "systems" consist of, because it leaves operational choices to the diocese; and these may differ according to various cultures and local conditions". [3]

Reporting obligations

The law mandates that clerics and religious report to ecclesiastical authority whenever they have "notice of, or well-founded motives to believe that" some sexual abuse or cover-up has been committed. [12] In addition, Vos estis lux mundi encourages all laypersons to report clerical sexual abuse and its cover-up to the competent ecclesiastical authorities. [3]

Vos estis lux mundi does not require clerics to report to civil authorities. However, it underlines that the obligation to report to the ecclesiastical authority does not interfere with, nor change, any reporting obligation that may exist in each countries’ legislation. Pursuant to article 19, the norms "apply without prejudice to the rights and obligations established in each place by state laws, particularly those concerning any reporting obligations to the competent civil authorities". [13]

Reports against bishops and lay involvement

If there is an allegation against one of the suffragan bishops in an ecclesiastical province that is not manifestly false, the metropolitan archbishop will conduct an investigation with a mandate of the Holy See. [2] If the metropolitan himself is the accused, the report is handled by the bishop of the suffragan diocese with the greatest seniority of appointment. Thereafter, the metropolitan or the person in charge of the investigation sends the Holy See, every thirty days, a status report on the preliminary investigation, which normally should be completed within ninety days.

In conducting the investigations, the metropolitan can avail himself of the help of qualified persons, both lay and clerical, according to "the needs of the individual case and, in particular, taking into account the cooperation that can be offered by the lay faithful" even if the ultimate responsibility for investigations remains with the metropolitan. To facilitate this task, episcopal conferences and dioceses may prepare lists of qualified persons willing to collaborate in the investigations.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the metropolitan forwards the results to the competent Vatican dicastery, which will then proceed "in accordance with the law provided for the specific case," acting on the basis of already existing canonical norms. If necessary, on the basis of the preliminary investigation, the Holy See can immediately impose restrictive measures on the person under investigation. [3]

If the metropolitan or the bishop responsible for the investigation executes it poorly, he himself could be investigated for cover-up. [10]

The canon lawyer J. D. Flynn has observed that:

Notably, the document also applies to bishops accused of interfering with or avoiding criminal and canonical investigations of sexual abuse or coercion. And it clarifies that compliance with civil law is a normative expectation for bishops, and that failing to do so could lead to censure. This far exceeds the prevailing cultural paradigm in many parts of the world, but it is in line with what Pope Francis has said about cooperation with civil authorities for years. [14]

Protection for the accused, victims, and whistleblowers

Pursuant to art. 4, whoever reports a case of sexual abuse or coverup cannot be subjected to "prejudice, retaliation or discrimination" because of what they report. Moreover, the reporter and the victims cannot be required to keep silence about the facts. Vos estis lux mundi also provides that the victims and their families must be treated with dignity and respect, must be welcomed, listened to and supported, and must be offered appropriate spiritual, medical and psychological assistance. [15] However, the innocence of the accused must be presumed [16] and the accused must be given the chance to defend him/herself and to receive legal counsel. [17]

Reactions

According to Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

We [the US bishops] receive the Motu Proprio Vos estis lux mundi ('You are the light of the world') as a blessing that will empower the Church everywhere to bring predators to justice, no matter what rank they hold in the Church. It also permits the Church the time and opportunity to bring spiritual healing. [18]

According to Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley, President of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors:

During the past year it has become far more clear that the people of the Church and our wider society rightfully demand substantive action for disclosure, transparency, and accountability with regard to any occurrence of sexual abuse, or intimidation, or cover up in the life of the Church and that that all Church personnel, regardless of office, be subject to the same policies, procedures, and sanctions. Vos estis lux mundi is an important and substantive response to that demand. I am grateful to the Holy Father [Pope] for his recognition of the critical need for these new policies and procedures and his actions to as best possible assure the protection of all the people we serve throughout the world. [19]

According to the canonist Kurt Martens:

This new law is without a doubt a rare gift to the entire church and sets, along with the companion Vatican law providing for jail time for any public official of the Vatican who fails to report abuse, an unmistakable new course. The painful, sometimes bitter, experience of the church in the United States and the voices of the faithful worldwide have helped bring about a change in attitude and a change in law. There is no turning back now, and the tone has been set for the future. [10]

In an official statement, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests noted some positive elements in Vos estis lux mundi but considered it lacking, particularly regarding the reporting obligations to civil authorities:

Mandated reporting is a good thing. Yet while this new law will compel priests and nuns to report abuse, it requires them to do so internally, to the very Church structures and offices that have been receiving and routing allegations of abuse for years. We would have been far more impressed if this new law required church officials to report to police and prosecutors instead. ... While we remain skeptical of this new law, we recognize some good things within it. For example, we are glad that the Vatican is specifically recognizing the plight of vulnerable adults by acknowledging "the abuse of authority," regardless of a victim's age. We are also glad that the Vatican has pledged to move quickly on internal investigations. [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catholic Church sexual abuse cases</span>

There have been many cases of sexual abuse of children by priests, nuns, and other members of religious life in the Catholic Church. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the cases have involved many allegations, investigations, trials, convictions, acknowledgement and apologies by Church authorities, and revelations about decades of instances of abuse and attempts by Church officials to cover them up. The abused include mostly boys but also girls, some as young as three years old, with the majority between the ages of 11 and 14. Criminal cases for the most part do not cover sexual harassment of adults. The accusations of abuse and cover-ups began to receive public attention during the late 1980s. Many of these cases allege decades of abuse, frequently made by adults or older youths years after the abuse occurred. Cases have also been brought against members of the Catholic hierarchy who covered up sex abuse allegations and moved abusive priests to other parishes, where abuse continued.

The Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches is the title of the 1990 work which is a codification of the common portions of the canon law for the 23 Eastern Catholic Churches in the Catholic Church. It is divided into 30 titles and has a total of 1546 canons. The code entered into force in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville</span> Latin Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Tennessee, United States

The Diocese of Knoxville is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in eastern Tennessee in the United States. It was founded on May 27, 1988, from the eastern counties of what was then the Diocese of Nashville. The diocese is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Louisville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Joseph Hoeppner</span>

Michael Joseph Hoeppner is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the bishop of the Diocese of Crookston in Minnesota from November 30, 2007, to April 13, 2021.

1983 <i>Code of Canon Law</i> 1983 codification of canonical legislation for the Latin Catholic Church

The 1983 Code of Canon Law, also called the Johanno-Pauline Code, is the "fundamental body of ecclesiastical laws for the Latin Church". It is the second and current comprehensive codification of canonical legislation for the Latin Church of the Catholic Church. The 1983 Code of Canon Law was promulgated on 25 January 1983 by John Paul II and took legal effect on the First Sunday of Advent 1983. It replaced the 1917 Code of Canon Law which had been promulgated by Benedict XV on 27 May 1917.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oscar Cantú</span> Mexican-American Catholic prelate

Oscar Cantú is a Mexican-American Catholic prelate who has served as Bishop of San Jose since 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Stika</span> American Catholic prelate (born 1957)

Richard Frank Stika is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the third bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville in Tennessee from 2009.

The ecclesiastical response to Catholic sexual abuse cases is a major aspect of the academic literature surrounding the Church's child sexual abuse scandal. The Catholic Church's response to the scandal can be viewed on three levels: the diocesan level, the episcopal conference level and the Vatican. Responses to the scandal proceeded at all three levels in parallel with the higher levels becoming progressively more involved as the gravity of the problem became more apparent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juan Ignacio Arrieta Ochoa de Chinchetru</span> Spanish Catholic bishop (b. 1951)

Juan Ignacio Arrieta Ochoa de Chinchetru is a Spanish prelate of the Catholic Church who has been secretary of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts since 15 February 2007. A bishop since 2008, he has held several other appointments in the Roman Curia.

The Curial response to Catholic sexual abuse cases was a significant part of the Church's response to Catholic sexual abuse cases. Its policies have shifted from favoring secrecy in the 20th century to active reform and apologies in the 21st century. Under the current leadership of Pope Francis, the issue has been addressed through direct instructions to report cases of sexual abuse and revoking the former policies of secrecy.

The law of Vatican City State consists of many forms, the most important of which is the canon law of the Catholic Church. The organs of state are governed by the Fundamental Law of Vatican City State. The Code of Penal Procedure governs tribunals and the Lateran Treaty governs relations with the Italian Republic.

The Supervisory and Financial Information Authority is the central institution in the Holy See and Vatican City State that is responsible for the prevention and countering of money laundering, terrorist financing and the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (AML/CFT/CPT). It is the central authority for supervision and regulation in these matters, both in relation to the obliged entities and the reporting entities. With regard to obliged entities, there is only one such entity in the jurisdiction – the Istituto per le Opere di Religione – while the reporting entities consist of every legal entity with a registered office in the Vatican City State and all the Institutions of the Roman Curia. The Authority also contains the jurisdiction's financial intelligence unit, which is responsible for acquiring and analyzing the suspicious activity reports submitted by reporting entities, making use of internal and international collaboration. Furthermore, ASIF is also the central authority for the supervision and prudential regulation of entities that professionally carry out financial activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catholic laity</span> Ordinary members of the Catholic Church who are not clergy

Catholic laity are the ordinary members of the Catholic Church who are neither clergy nor recipients of Holy Orders or vowed to life in a religious order or congregation. Their mission, according to the Second Vatican Council, is to "sanctify the world".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raymond Chappetto</span> American prelate

Raymond Francis Chappetto is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who was an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn in New York City from 2012 to 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher Saunders</span> Australian Catholic prelate (born 1950)

Christopher Alan Saunders is an Australian prelate of the Catholic Church who was the bishop of the Latin Church diocese of Broome from 1996 to 2021, when he resigned amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors is a pontifical commission within the Roman Curia of the Catholic Church instituted by Pope Francis on 22 March 2014 as an advisory agency serving the pope. Since 5 June 2022, the Commission has been part of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, operating with its officials and according to its norms.

The matrimonial nullity trial reforms of Pope Francis are the reforms of the Canon law of the Catholic Church governing such trials, made public on 8 September 2015. The reforms were effected by two separate apostolic letters from Pope Francis: the motu proprioMitis Iudex Dominus Iesus amending the 1983 Code of Canon Law, and the motu proprioMitis et misericors Iesus amending the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. This was in response to the bishops who, during the 2014 Synod on the Family, called for the simplification of the procedure whereby a canonically invalid marriage is declared null.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meeting on the Protection of Minors in the Church</span> Summit in the Vatican City

The Vatican sexual abuse summit, officially the Meeting on the Protection of Minors in the Church, was a four-day Catholic Church summit meeting in Vatican City that ran from 21 to 24 February 2019, convened by Pope Francis to discuss preventing sexual abuse by Catholic Church clergy.

Pascite gregem Dei is an apostolic constitution issued by Pope Francis on 1 June 2021 which reforms Book VI of the 1983 Code of Canon Law. It took effect on 8 December 2021.

Traditionis custodes is an apostolic letter issued motu proprio by Pope Francis, promulgated on 16 July 2021 regarding the continued use of pre-Vatican II rites. It restricts the celebration of the Tridentine Mass of the Roman Rite, sometimes colloquially called the "Latin Mass" or the "Traditional Latin Mass". The apostolic letter was accompanied by an ecclesiastical letter to the Catholic bishops of the world.

References

  1. 1 2 "Pope Francis Signs Motu Proprio to Prevent and Denounce Abuses in the Catholic Church". NCR. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  2. 1 2 3 "Catholic Church issues norms for reports of sexual abuse of minors, seminarians, and religious". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Tornielli, Andrea (2019-05-09). "New norms for the whole Church against those who abuse or cover up". www.vaticannews.va. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
  4. ↑ "Apostolic Letter in the form of "Motu Proprio" " "Vos estis lux mundi"". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
  5. ↑ "Card Ouellet: Motu proprio establishes effective measures against abuse". www.vaticannews.va. 2019-05-09. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
  6. ↑ "Pope Francis promulgates revised 'Vos estis' - Here's what changed". The Pillar. 2023-03-25. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  7. ↑ White, Christopher. "Pope Francis makes 'Vos Estis' clergy abuse law permanent". www.ncronline.org. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  8. ↑ Mares, Courtney (25 March 2023). "Pope Francis decrees permanent 'Vos estis lux mundi' legislation to counter abuse". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  9. ↑ "Apostolic Letter in the form of "Motu Proprio" " "Vos estis lux mundi", art. 1". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
  10. 1 2 3 Martens, Kurt (2019-05-10). "Pope Francis' new sex abuse rules are a revolution for the Catholic Church". America Magazine. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
  11. ↑ Flynn, J. D. "Analysis: Is Pope Francis' new abuse plan the answer Catholics are looking for?". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
  12. ↑ "Apostolic Letter in the form of "Motu Proprio" " "Vos estis lux mundi", art. 3 §1". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
  13. ↑ "Apostolic Letter in the form of "Motu Proprio" " "Vos estis lux mundi", art. 19". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
  14. ↑ Flynn, J. D. "Analysis: Is Pope Francis' new abuse plan the answer Catholics are looking for?". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
  15. ↑ "Apostolic Letter in the form of "Motu Proprio" " "Vos estis lux mundi", arts. 4-5". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
  16. ↑ News.Va: New norms for the whole Church against those who abuse or cover up The principle of presumption of innocence of the person under investigation is reaffirmed. The accused will be informed of the investigation when requested to do so by the competent Dicastery. The accusation must be notified only if formal proceedings are opened. If deemed appropriate, in order to ensure the integrity of the investigation or of the evidence, this notification may be omitted during the preliminary stage.
  17. ↑ VOS ESTIS LUX MUNDI, Art. 12 §7
  18. ↑ "U.S. Church leaders in favor of new rules on sexual abuse reporting". TheCatholicSpirit.com. 2019-05-10. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
  19. ↑ "Cardinal O'Malley's Statement on 'Vos estis lux mundi'". ZENIT - English. 2019-05-09. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
  20. ↑ "Pope Francis Issues New Reporting Laws, SNAP Responds". Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. May 9, 2019. Retrieved 2019-05-12.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.