Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela

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'''''Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela''''' (''Safeguarding the Sanctity of the Sacraments'') is an apostolic letter issued by Pope [[John Paul II]] on April 30, 2001, in the form of a ''motu proprio''.<ref>[https://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1344083bdc4.html Sexual Abuse. The New Norms "On the Most Serious Offenses"] chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it, July 15, 2010</ref> It replaced the secretive and widely discredited ''[[Crimen sollicitationis]]''. The document establishes a set of norms for dealing with more serious offenses within the [[Catholic Church]], specifically those that affect the sanctity of the sacraments and other "grave delicts" committed by clergy, such as [[Rape|sexual abuse]] of minors and vulnerable adults.<ref>[https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/motu_proprio/documents/hf_jp-ii_motu-proprio_20020110_sacramentorum-sanctitatis-tutela.html Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela] The Vatican, accessed February 18, 2025</ref>

==Key points==
*Grave delicts:

:The document outlines and sets forth procedures for addressing instances of sexual abuse by clergy, encompassing the sexual exploitation and maltreatment of children and vulnerable adults. It also addresses other serious offenses,<ref group="note">"Serious" in the Catholic Church sense, but everyone else is usually just mildly bemused."</ref> such as the desecration of the [[Eucharist]] and violations of the sacramental seal of [[confession]].

*Authority:
:The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has exclusive authority to prosecute and judge these cases. This centralization aims to ensure consistency and seriousness in handling these offenses.

*Procedures:
:The norms laid out in the document are designed to provide a clear and consistent framework for addressing these grave delicts, ensuring that justice is served while protecting the dignity of all parties involved. The procedures include detailed steps for investigating accusations, conducting trials, and imposing penalties.

==Controversies and revisions==
The document has been subject to controversy, particularly regarding its transparency and the potential for covering up abuse cases. Critics have argued that the procedures are not open enough and may allow for the concealment of abuse incidents.<ref>[https://www.tutelaminorum.org/balancing-confidentiality-transparency-and-accountability/ Balancing Confidentiality,  Transparency and Accountability] Tutela Minorum, 2021</ref> Revisions have been made in an attempt to address these concerns.

In 2010, [[Pope Benedict XVI]] revised the norms to accelerate procedures, address new issues, and make the processes more efficient.<ref>[https://www.usccb.org/upload/Normae-de-gravioribus-delictis.pdf Modifications introduced in the ''Normae de gravioribus delictis''] Promulgated on May 21, 2010</ref> The changes included granting the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith the authority to judge cardinals, patriarchs, legates of the apostolic see, bishops, and other high-ranking clergy members, and extending the timeframe from 10 to 20 years for initiating legal action against clergy for serious offenses.

More recently, [[Pope Francis]] introduced further changes to close loopholes to try to ensure that clerics who sexually abuse minors can be prosecuted even if they claim ignorance of the victim's age.<ref>[https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/pope-francis-closes-clerical-sex Pope Francis closes clerical sex abuse loophole] The Pillar, December 7, 2021</ref>

==Notes==
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==References==
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[[Category:Catholicism]]
[[Category:Crime]]
[[Category:Latin phrases]]
[[Category:Paedophilia]]

Categories: Catholicism, Crime, Latin phrases, Paedophilia