Archbishop Giacomo Morandi Vademecum
A manual designed for Bishops and Religious Superiors to guide them in dealing with cases of reported abuse.
Archbishop Giacomo Morandi, Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, gave that description of the Vademecum released on Thursday, in an interview with Vatican media.
What follows is a working translation of the complete interview translated from the original Italian.
Q: Who prepared this document, and why has it taken so long to reach publication after it was first announced in February 2019?
It was prepared by the Congregation, thanks above all to the contribution of the Discipline Office, which in recent years has acquired particular experience regarding the cases in question. The apparently long drafting time is due to extensive analysis work, not only within the Congregation but also outside of it, with experts in the field, other Dicasteries, and in particular with the Secretariat of State.
Q: What is the purpose of this Vademecum,and to whom is it addressed?
I prefer to define it, along with the Prefect of our Congregation, as a “manual”. It is not, therefore, a normative text, but a tool at the disposal of Bishops, Religious Superiors, ecclesiastical tribunals, legal professionals, and also those in charge of listening centers set up by Bishops’ Conferences. Given the complexity of norms and best-practices, this guide aims to point out a path, to assist in not getting lost