The Swiss Conference of Bishops (CES) has approved measures to curb sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, including thorough personality tests for priesthood candidates.
The CES will also institute a "commission of experts on sexual abuse" to advise the Church, the conference said in a statement released in the western Swiss city of Morges.
The measures are seen as a response to incidents of sexual abuse within the Swiss clergy. A series of cases came to light in the 1990s, when at least four priests were prosecuted for pedophilic acts. A fifth priest was charged for sexually abusing a woman.
The CES "will not deal only with the problem of pedophilia, which is far from being the only type of sexual abuse we can encounter," the statement said.
Personality tests will be "a careful examination of a candidate's suitability for the priesthood," the CES said, adding that "in the event of doubt an expert should be consulted."
The 11-member expert commission would examine the psychological, judicial and ecclesiastical aspects of a specific case and advise appropriate measures, the CES said.
AFPSwiss bishops approve measures to curb abuse The Swiss Conference of Bishops (CES) has approved measures to curb sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, including thorough personality tests for priesthood candidates.
The CES will also institute a "commission of experts on sexual abuse" to advise the Church, the conference said in a statement released in the western Swiss city of Morges.
The measures are seen as a response to incidents of sexual abuse within the Swiss clergy. A series of cases came to light in the 1990s, when at least four priests were prosecuted for pedophilic acts. A fifth priest was charged for sexually abusing a woman.
The CES "will not deal only with the problem of pedophilia, which is far from being the only type of sexual abuse we can encounter," the statement said.
Personality tests will be "a careful examination of a candidate's suitability for the priesthood," the CES said, adding that "in the event of doubt an expert should be consulted."
The 11-member expert commission would examine the psychological, judicial and ecclesiastical aspects of a specific case and advise appropriate measures, the CES said.
AFPThe Swiss Conference of Bishops (CES) has approved measures to curb sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, including thorough personality tests for priesthood candidates.
The CES will also institute a "commission of experts on sexual abuse" to advise the Church, the conference said in a statement released in the western Swiss city of Morges.
The measures are seen as a response to incidents of sexual abuse within the Swiss clergy. A series of cases came to light in the 1990s, when at least four priests were prosecuted for pedophilic acts. A fifth priest was charged for sexually abusing a woman.
The CES "will not deal only with the problem of pedophilia, which is far from being the only type of sexual abuse we can encounter," the statement said.
Personality tests will be "a careful examination of a candidate's suitability for the priesthood," the CES said, adding that "in the event of doubt an expert should be consulted."
The 11-member expert commission would examine the psychological, judicial and ecclesiastical aspects of a specific case and advise appropriate measures, the CES said.
AFP