Created in 1962, a now infamous document was issued
in secret to bishops. Called Crimen Sollicitationis, it outlined
procedures to be followed by bishops when dealing with allegations of
child abuse, homosexuality and bestiality by members of the clergy. It
swore all parties involved to secrecy on pain of excommunication from
the Catholic Church.
This document was reissued in
2001 by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and sent to all bishops. Yet rather
than ordering more openness and cooperation with the authorities as
demanded by both law enforcers and the victims, he reiterated its
policies and ensured that the Code of Silence be applied to all cases of
child abuse involving a priest. Cardinal Ratzinger also instructed that
all cases should now be referred to his office directly and that he
would maintain ‘exclusive competence’ over the handling of allegations.
This is the Catholic Church’s policy to this day and Cardinal Ratzinger
is now Pope Benedict XVI.
The policy laid out in
the above document has led to systemic failure by the result that a
significant number of priest have, in effect, been allowed to abuse
again, and further children have been put at risk.
As
the documentary explores, Colm O’Gorman is the man responsible for
breaking open decades of abuse by Catholic Priests in Ireland in the
BAFTA award-winning BBC special Suing the Pope. He links international
’systemic evidence’ to argue the Vatican has a policy to cover up the
sexual abuse of thousands of children across the world.
In Sex Crimes and the Vatican O’Gorman explores
four separate cases internationally of widespread clerical abuse,
putting the Roman Catholic Church on trial for the reckless endangerment
of children. O’Gorman raises the question, ‘Is the Church in default of
its obligation as a signatory to the UN Convention of the Rights of the
Child?’ (Excerpt
from news.bbc.co.uk)