At least 12 of Ireland’s Catholic bishops may be subject to investigation by the new Vatican tribunal announced this week by Pope Francis. The tribunal will hold bishops to account where it is claimed they failed to protect children from sexual abuse by priests.
It is being established following a proposal by the
Vatican Commission for the Protection of Minors. It was unclear on
Wednesday whether the tribunal could deal with retrospective cases of
negligence by bishops, but it has now been confirmed that it will have
such powers.