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  1. When even a single act of sexual abuse by a cleric is admitted or is established after an appropriate process in accord with canon law, the offending cleric will be removed permanently from ecclesiastical ministry, not excluding dismissal from the clerical state, if the case so warrants.
  2. If for reasons such as advanced age or infirmity the penalty of dismissal from the clerical state is not applied for an established act of sexual abuse of a minor, the offending cleric will lead a life of prayer and penance and the restrictions from any priestly ministry will become permanent.

Source: Essential Norms for Diocesan Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons. Approved by the Congregation for Bishops, December 8, 2002.

There are five options that can be exercised when dealing with the status of a cleric against whom there are substantiated reports of sexual abuse of minors:

  1. The cleric requests laicization from the pope.

  2. The pope can decide to dismiss the cleric from the clerical state. The pope's decision is not subject to appeal or review.

  3. A bishop or the Holy See can impose a penalty on the cleric using an administrative penal process (described in canon 1720 of the Code of Canon Law) without going through a church trial. If the bishop decides that the penalty is permanent dismissal from the clerical state, he needs approval from the Vatican's doctrinal congregation; if he decides on a lesser penalty, he can decree it on his own authority. The accused cleric may appeal this action.

  4. A trial of the accused cleric can be conducted, typically by diocesan tribunals. These are church trials, as opposed to civil trials that may carry jail terms or other penalties. The decisions and penalties of the diocesan court can be appealed by the cleric to the Vatican's doctrinal congregation. The diocesan promoter of justice can also appeal the local decision, for example, if he believes a conviction was warranted for a cleric who was absolved.

  5. In cases where a cleric known to have been abusive cannot be prosecuted under church law for technical reasons, a disciplinary action can still be imposed on him -- such as limiting or removing him from direct ministry or, after consulting with psychological experts, declaring him impeded from the exercise of ministry.
 
 
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