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Reports Claim Catholic Bishops Aren't Required To Report Sexual Abuse

A Vatican training document allegedly says victims and their guardians are responsible for reporting child sex abuse cases that occur in the church.

Reports Claim Catholic Bishops Aren't Required To Report Sexual Abuse
Getty Images / Christopher Furlong
SMS

A Vatican training document reportedly says Catholic bishops don't have to report child molestation cases to authorities.

So if that's the case, whose job is it? According to The Boston Globe's Catholic news site Crux, that burden falls to victims and their guardians.

The Vatican recently had its annual training for new bishops. And they were apparently instructed to internally resolve things.

Even though Pope Francis formed a commission to eradicate sexual assaults in the church, that commission reportedly wasn't involved in writing these instructions.

And victim support groups weren't very happy about these apparent findings.

Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests said in a statement, "It's infuriating, and dangerous, that so many believe the myth that bishops are changing how they deal with abuse."

This video includes clips from Rome Reports, the Vatican and images from Getty Images.