This would mean transferring some offices from the Vatican to local bishops or episcopal conferences "in a spirit of healthy decentralization."

The Council said they also discussed circumstances in which decisions that are currently made by Vatican congregations could be made by diocesan bishops or episcopal conferences.

Exactly which Vatican offices might be involved in such a change has not yet been announced.

Vatican spokesman Greg Burke referred to the Vatican offices that might be involved as dicasteries when he was briefing reporters after the latest Council meeting.

He did not make any distinction between those dicasteries classified as "congregations" and those that are "pontifical councils."

Noting that no immediate changes are likely, Burke cited the possibility of transferring authority over deacons as an example; he said this was just one of several types of decentralization the Council of Cardinals considered in its meeting.

"In many dicasteries there are things like this that [at present] depend on Rome [to decide them] but do not have to necessarily," he said.

The next meeting of the Council of Cardinals is scheduled for September.

Source

• National Catholic Reporter
• Catholic Culture
• Crux
• Image: abc.es

In a motu proprio released on Saurday, the Pope empowered several Vatican dicasteries to investigate such bishops and initiate processes of removal, subject to papal approval.

In a preamble to the motu proprio, Francis noted that the canon law "already foresees the possibility of removal from the ecclesial office 'for grave causes'".

The Pope wrote that "grave causes" now includes "negligence of bishops in the exercise of their office, particularly relative to cases of sexual abuse against minors and vulnerable adults".

The ruling applies to bishops, eparchs or heads of religious communities.

The relevant Roman congregations can start an investigation if negligence by such figures caused "physical, moral, spiritual or patrimonial" harm.

There can be a legitimate removal from office if such a person "has by negligence, place or omitted acts caused serious harm to others, whether their physical persons or the community as a whole".

"The diocesan bishop or eparch can be removed only if he has objectively been lacking in a very grave manner the diligence that is required of his pastoral office," the document continued.

"In the case of abuse against minors or vulnerable adults it is sufficient that the lacking of diligence be grave," it was specified.

Those subject to such a process will be able to defend themselves.

A "special association of legal experts" will help the Pope in making final decisions in such cases.

The Vatican stated that it is foreseen that such an association will be composed of cardinals and bishops.

The new law takes effect on September 5.

Marie Collins, a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and an abuse survivor, said she welcomes the new procedures.

She said she hopes they bring accountability, but the important thing is the implementation.

The Vatican said the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is not among the dicasteries that will conduct investigations covered by the motu proprio.

This is because the offences involve negligence of office, not crimes of abuse itself.

Last year it was announced that the Pope had approved the creation of a new tribunal in the CDF to judge bishops "with regard to crimes of the abuse of office when connected to the abuse of minors".

But thus far no personnel have been appointed to this body.

The Associated Press reported that this tribunal was scrapped after it ran into opposition and the Pope instead opted to clarify legal procedures.

Sources

• National Catholic Reporter
• The Tablet
• Crux
• Washington Post
• Image: Deccan Chronicle

The two new Vatican offices proposed are "Laity, Family and Life" and "Justice, Peace and Migration".

Pope Francis will make the final decision on these proposals.

The cardinals are still discussing planned reforms for the Vatican's Secretariat of State and the Congregation for Divine Worship.

At their meeting this month, the cardinals also discussed "synodality" and the Pope's call last year for the Church to move towards "healthy decentralisation".

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