Guidelines Produced in Response to the Cdf’s Circular Letter of 3 May 2011 Complementary to Art. 6ss1-2 of the 2010 Normae de Gravioribus Delictis: A Canonical Analysis in Light of the Work of the Cdf

The CDF issued a circular letter on the 3rd May 2011 to assist bishops’ conferences in the development of guidelines for dealing with cases of sexual abuse of minors by clerics. This study offers a detailed analysis of a selection of guidelines submitted to CDF in response, through the lens of the CDF’s engagement with conferences. Topics covered include principles, the definition of sexual abuse, canonical procedures, care of the victim - alleged and established - and of the accused, prevention of delictual behaviour, and codes of conduct. The study examines the circular letter itself, the canonical nature of the guidelines, and the status of CDF final review prior to guideline publication and application. It concludes by reflecting on the context of the delict and the aims of penal law in light of the CDF’s draft review process, with suggestions on changes to the law. With permission from CDF for access to its work in this area, an insight is offered into the ideas developed by bishops’ conferences and a dicastery which has a leading role in the response of the Church to sexual abuse of minors by clerics.