(译自梵蒂冈官方网页http://www.vatican.va/resources/resources_guide-CDF-procedures_en.html 2010年4月12日；本文旨在向大众介绍2001年4月30日教廷颁发之教宗手谕)
本文介绍之法律包括2001年4月30日颁发之教宗手谕“Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela” (MP SST)，以及1983年颁布之教会法典。希望藉此简介，协助平信徒及非教律学者对此有一定了解。
甲： 初步程序
地方教区将调查每宗涉及神职人员之未成年人性侵犯指控个案。
假如指控之表面事实成立，个案须转介到教廷信理部。地方主教须将所有资料传送至信理部，并就个案之处理程序、以及短期和长期措施提出意见。
必须遵循地方公民法之举报罪行条例，向有关当局呈报个案。
由初步阶段至个案完成调查期间，主教可采用预防措施以保障社区人士，当中包括受害人。事实上，地方主教有权限制任何神父在教区内之活动，以保障儿童之安全。此乃教区首长之部分权力，在任何情况下，他也可行使权力以确保儿童免受伤害。无论在教会法定程序进行前、进行期间、及程序进行后，主教均可行使此权。
乙： 信理部授权之程序
信理部会研究地方主教提交之个案，并在有需要时，要求提供补充资料。
信理部须遵照下列不同处理程序：
乙一 刑事诉讼
信理部可授权地方主教于教区法庭上召开司法刑事审讯，在此情况下之任何上诉个案最终将被送交信理部法庭处理。
信理部可授权地方主教在两名陪审员协助下，于地方主教代表团内召开行政刑事诉讼。被指控之神父须就有关指控进行答辩及核对证供，而就教律法定之惩罚，该神父亦有权向信理部抗辩。信理部之枢机主教成员的决定为最终裁决。
如神职人员被判有罪，有关之司法及行政部门可同时对该神职人员判处教会法定之惩罚，最严重是撤去其神职职务。有关损害赔偿问题亦会直接在这过程中处理。
乙二 直接提交至教宗之个案
对非常严重的个案，当公民刑事法庭裁定神职人员性侵犯未成年人有罪，又或有压倒性之证据显示其有罪，信理部可选择直接向教宗要求发出“撤去神职职务”之法令，按教律教宗的法令乃属最终裁决。
与此同时，信理部按被控神父因认罪而提出之请求，向教宗申请其免职及还俗。教宗为教会之益处(pro bono Ecclesiae)予以批准。
乙三 纪律措施
若被控神父已承认控罪，并已接受祈祷及赎罪生活，信理部可授权地方主教发出判令，以禁止或限制该神父之公职。这判令与惩罚法令同时生效，即该神父若违反有关判令，将被惩罚，包括被撤职。有关判令之行政抗辩可向信理部提出；信理部之决定为最终裁决。
丙： 教宗手谕 SST修订
较早前，信理部根据教宗若望保禄二世及教宗本笃十六世授予之特权，曾就教宗手谕“Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela”之部分条文进行修订，藉以更新2001年之教宗手谕。建议及讨论中之修订将不改变以上提及之程序 (甲、乙一至乙三)。
(中文翻译: 香港天主教社会传播处)
Guide to Understanding Basic CDF Procedures
concerning Sexual Abuse Allegations
The applicable law is the Motu Proprio Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela (MP SST) of 30 April 2001 together with the 1983 Code of Canon Law. This is an introductory guide which may be helpful to lay persons and non-canonists.
A: Preliminary Procedures
The local diocese investigates every allegation of sexual abuse of a minor by a cleric.
If the allegation has a semblance of truth the case is referred to the CDF. The local bishop transmits all the necessary information to the CDF and expresses his opinion on the procedures to be followed and the measures to be adopted in the short and long term.
Civil law concerning reporting of crimes to the appropriate authorities should always be followed.
During the preliminary stage and until the case is concluded, the bishop may impose precautionary measures to safeguard the community, including the victims. Indeed, the local bishop always retains power to protect children by restricting the activities of any priest in his diocese. This is part of his ordinary authority, which he is encouraged to exercise to whatever extent is necessary to assure that children do not come to harm, and this power can be exercised at the bishop's discretion before, during and after any canonical proceeding.
B: Procedures authorized by the CDF
The CDF studies the case presented by the local bishop and also asks for supplementary information where necessary.
The CDF has a number of options:
B1 Penal Processes
The CDF may authorize the local bishop to conduct a judicial penal trial before a local Church tribunal. Any appeal in such cases would eventually be lodged to a tribunal of the CDF.
The CDF may authorize the local bishop to conduct an administrative penal process before a delegate of the local bishop assisted by two assessors. The accused priest is called to respond to the accusations and to review the evidence. The accused has a right to present recourse to the CDF against a decree condemning him to a canonical penalty. The decision of the Cardinals members of the CDF is final.
Should the cleric be judged guilty, both judicial and administrative penal processes can condemn a cleric to a number of canonical penalties, the most serious of which is dismissal from the clerical state. The question of damages can also be treated directly during these procedures.
B2 Cases referred directly to the Holy Father
In very grave cases where a civil criminal trial has found the cleric guilty of sexual abuse of minors or where the evidence is overwhelming, the CDF may choose to take the case directly to the Holy Father with the request that the Pope issue a decree of "ex officio" dismissal from the clerical state. There is no canonical remedy against such a papal decree.
The CDF also brings to the Holy Father requests by accused priests who, cognizant of their crimes, ask to be dispensed from the obligation of the priesthood and want to return to the lay state. The Holy Father grants these requests for the good of the Church ("pro bono Ecclesiae").
B3 Disciplinary Measures
In cases where the accused priest has admitted to his crimes and has accepted to live a life of prayer and penance, the CDF authorizes the local bishop to issue a decree prohibiting or restricting the public ministry of such a priest. Such decrees are imposed through a penal precept which would entail a canonical penalty for a violation of the conditions of the decree, not excluding dismissal from the clerical state. Administrative recourse to the CDF is possible against such decrees. The decision of the CDF is final.
C. Revision of MP SST
For some time the CDF has undertaken a revision of some of the articles of Motu Proprio Sacramentorum Sanctitatis tutela, in order to update the said Motu Proprio of 2001 in the light of special faculties granted to the CDF by Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. The proposed modifications under discussion will not change the above-mentioned procedures (A, B1-B3). |
