Google – AFP, 11 July 2013
Pope
Francis leads a mass during a visit to the Italian island of Lampedusa,
on July
8, 2013 (AFP/File, Andreas Solaro)
|
VATICAN
CITY — Pope Francis on Thursday bolstered criminal legislation against child
abuse in the Vatican and increased criminal liability for employees of the tiny
city state in a legislative overhaul.
The Vatican
said in a statement that the pope's decree included "a broader definition
of the category of crimes against minors" including child prostitution,
sexual acts with children and child pornography.
The new
laws are part of an introduction of forms of crime indicated in international
conventions that the Vatican has already ratified including against racism and
war crimes and on children's rights.
A Catholic
churchgoer holds a cross
and rosary beads during a church
service (AFP/File,
Peter Muhly)
|
"These
were indeed punished, but as broader, more generic forms of criminal
activity," it added.
Francis
also increased cooperation with other states against money laundering and
terrorism in a continuation of reforms begun by his predecessor, Benedict XVI,
to get the Vatican in line with international legislation.
The new
norms also introduce the administrative responsibility of Vatican departments
-- a potentially radical change that would complement his plans to root out corruption
from the scandal-ridden Vatican bureaucracy.
The pope's
reform "extends the reach of the legislation contained in these criminal
laws to the members, officials and employees of the various bodies of the Roman
Curia," the central body of the Catholic Church, Mamberti said.
View of St
Peter Square in the Vatican,
on April 28, 2013 (AFP/File, Tiziana Fabi)
|
The laws
will come into force on September 1.
The Vatican
explained some of the provisions in its criminal code were "rather
dated". Among the novelties is that life imprisonment will be outlawed and
replaced with a maximum sentence of 35 years.
There was
also a direct consequence of the "Vatileaks" scandal last year when
Benedict's butler Paolo Gabriele published confidential documents from Vatican
offices alleging widespread corruption and mismanagement.
Punishment
will be increased for anyone stealing secret papers.
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