Vatican approves new child sex rules for US (Now that is one heck of a headline!)

Hindustan Times ^ | 2/16/02 | Reuters

[TheConservator]

The Vatican gave its formal approval on Monday to a revised plan by U.S. bishops on how to punish priests caught up in a vast clergy sexual abuse scandal.

The Vatican approval came in a letter by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, head of the Congregation for Bishops, and sent to Bishop Wilton Gregory, head of the U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference.

The Vatican rejected the original norms in October, saying the rules, drawn up by U.S. bishops to deal with the worst crisis to hit the American Church, were inadequate, confusing and legally ambigous.

He revised regulations, known as "norms", were subsequently worked out by a special U.S.-Vatican commission. The approval came three days after the resignation of Cardinal Bernard Law whose Boston archdiocese is at the heart of the crisis

[TheConservator]

Now that is a misleading headline!

[cgordon]

New child sex rules? How disgusting! Anyone who would hurt a child in such a manner should be put to death!

[ArrogantBustard]

Anyone who would hurt a child in such a manner should be put to death!

Take it up with your State Legislature. The Church does not claim the authority to put anyone to death. Even during the heyday of "inquisitions", it was the King (queen, prince, whatever) that handled executions. (Repent, or we'll turn you over to the Secular Authorities!)

[Life of Brian]

Even during the heyday of "inquisitions", it was the King (queen, prince, whatever) that handled executions. (Repent, or we'll turn you over to the Secular Authorities!)

The King of the 'Holy' Roman Empire was crowned by the Pope. That is why he was called the Holy Roman Emperor.

[ArrogantBustard]

So? And at other times in history, Princes and Kings have had (or sought) the authority to appoint Bishops. And the current head of the Church of England is not a cleric. It's not even a man. Historically, Church (whether Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant) and State have been highly entangled more often than not. Still, execution of the death penalty has always been a function of the State.

[Life of Brian]

So? The death penalty has always been a function of the state and where did the authority to function in that regard come from specifically relating to the inquistion?

[ArrogantBustard]

The King (or whatever, whether Catholic, Orthodox or Protestnat) prohibited "heresy" (ie preaching some religion other than the King's) on the grounds that it led to public disorder. The State left it to the Church to judge whether "heresy" had actually occurred. And you're obfuscating the point. In the United States, today, the death penalty is the sole purview of the State. If "cgordon" or anyone else wants child molestation to be a hanging offence, he needs to talk to his State Legislature.

[Publius6961]

And you expect what from a muslim newspaper?