By Canadian Press

RELIGION

Canadian among group pushing Vatican to adopt zero-tolerance policy for clergy abuse

Nov 20, 2024 | 9:24 AM

An international group led by a Canadian is in Rome this week to push the Catholic Church to adopt a zero-tolerance policy for clergy abuse.

Newfoundlander Gemma Hickey is the board president of non-profit Ending Clergy Abuse, which is advocating for the church to adopt widespread rules requiring any priest or deacon found guilty of sexual abuse to be removed permanently from ministry.

Hickey and other group members met today with officials from the Dicastery for Legislative Texts, which is the department of the main governing body of the Catholic Church concerned with canonical law.

Hickey says they discussed changes proposed by Ending Clergy Abuse that would see the permanent removal of any cleric found guilty under canon law of even a single act of sexual abuse of a child or vulnerable person.

The Vatican approved a “one strike and you’re out” policy for the U.S. Catholic Church in 2002, which has long stood out as the toughest in the church.

WHAT'S ON

Medicine Hat pride group holding Trans Day of Remembrance event tonight

12h ago

LIVE UPDATES

Road construction, detours and traffic in Medicine Hat

17h ago

WHAT'S ON

Medicine Hat Public Library hosting second annual local authors meet and greet on Saturday

Nov 20, 2024

Ending Clergy Abuse is asking the church to adopt that approach across the globe.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 20, 2024.

— With files from The Associated Press.