Dealing with sex abuse

The publication reflects the Roman Catholic Churchs determination to deflect criticism that its response to the sex abuse scandal has been bureaucratic,secretive and defensive.

amp;149; It made clear that bishops must report crimes to the police,saying civil law concerning reporting of crimes to the appropriate authorities should always be followed.

amp;149; Bishops should probe every allegation,and any accusation with a semblance of the truth referred to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

amp;149; The brief document said that in very grave cases where a civil criminal trial has found the cleric guilty of sexual abuse,the Pope himself can be asked to dismiss the priest.

In Popes defence

amp;149; The Vatican took the unusual step of chiding the New York Times by name for being in attack mode regarding the Popes response,when he was a cardinal,to the abuse of 200 deaf boys by a priest in the 1950s and 60s.

amp;149; The editor of Vatican newspaper LOsservatore Romano said: The Pope is a great communicator too,in his own way, said the editor,Giovanni Maria Vian.

amp;149;Everyone has their own way of communicating depending on their personality. But it could be done better,this is true.

amp;149; Speaking to foreign correspondents,Vian criticised poor standards of reporting.

amp;149; He denied reports that the Pope is alone and said that Church is behind him.