On EWTN "The World Over" tonight His Eminence Gerhard Cardinal Müller indicated two gaps in the present (1983) Code of Canon Law in the procedure to deal with canonical crimes by clerics.
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith treats sexual abuse of minors exclusively, and therefore has no jurisdiction over the sexual abuse by clerics of persons over 18 years old.
Also, The Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith has no jurisdiction to investigate crimes committed by bishops or cardinals. That authority is only possessed by the Supreme Pontiff.
These are two areas in which Cardinal Müller deems the present law deficient and that it should be changed so that the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith might have regular and independent authority to investigate and prosecute all cases regarding sexual abuse by clerics of whatever rank and with any type of victim.
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