Good god, what is wrong with these people?!?
As reported on Secular Europe, Vatican: Bishops don’t have to report child abuse to the police according to new guidelines.
Under the guise of "guidelines on child protection":
The Italian Bishop’s Conference (CIE) has issued guidelines on child protection that inform its bishops that they are ‘not obliged to report illicit facts’ of child abuse to the police.
“Under Italian law, the bishop, given that he holds no public office nor is he a public servant, is not obliged to report illicit facts of the type covered by this document to the relevant state judicial authorities.”
From the sane corner of the room:
In response to the documentation US Abuse Victims’ Group Snap told the Irish Times: “Once again the Catholic Church hierarchy has missed the boat . . . These prelates had a chance to do more than the bare minimum and thus set a good example for their colleagues around the world by putting the safety of children first and foremost, but they chose instead to put the reputation of the church first.”
God, if you're out there, isn't it time you bitch-slapped this organization?
[Updated to include:]
As pointed out in the comments, I jumped on this more emotionally than rationally. (Which I think can be understood.). I'm doing more research, and will be adding new findings here.
The Catholic Register, has a more upbeat look at the document, but includes this:
However, the guidelines also say that under Italian law, bishops "do not have the juridical obligation to report to state judicial authorities news they receive" regarding sex abuse.
The guidelines do not indicate any plans to create national structures for coordinating or monitoring the church's response to abuse allegations, to create child protection programs or to institute any special priestly formation programs.
Still looking for a link to the full document. ....
[Update 2:]
The Catholic Register article seems to be a straight re-post of a Catholic News Service press release.