Earlier this month, Pope Francis released a new Motu Proprio ordering a worldwide response to the evil of sexual abuse in the Church. Vos estis lux mundi (“You are the light of the world”), comes just two months after a meeting in Rome that brought together episcopal conference presidents from across the globe to discuss the Church sex abuse crisis. Vos estis lux mundi, which goes into effect June 1, establishes procedures for the whole Church for reporting sexual abuse and violence and ensuring that perpetrators of such abuses, at any level of the Church, are held accountable for their actions.
Read Bishop Walkowiak’s reflection on the Motu Proprio
Additional resources
Read Vos estis lux mundi (‘You are the light of the world’) on the Vatican website (multiple languages)
Read the USCCB’s statement with Q & A
Read the statement from Archbishop Vigneron of Detroit
Vatican News
Cardinal Ouellet: Motu Proprio establishes effective measures against abuse
Archbishop Scicluna: ‘how I would explain the Motu Proprio to my flock’
New norms for the whole Church against those who abuse or cover up
Diocesan resources
Additional messages and statements from Bishop Walkowiak
Safe environment policies and practices (English | Español)
Reporting abuse
About the photo: Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta speaks at a news conference presenting Pope Francis’ new document, “Vos estis lux mundi” (“You are the light of the world”) at the Vatican May 9, 2019.
