A secret document which sets out a procedure for dealing with child sex abuse scandals within the Catholic Church is examined by Panorama.

Crimen Sollicitationis was enforced for 20 years by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger before he became the Pope.

It instructs bishops on how to deal with allegations of child abuse against priests and has been seen by few outsiders.

Critics say the document has been used to evade prosecution for sex crimes.

The BBC has made the documents available to the public at their web site. At the follwoing link, you can read the full article quoted above, view the documents, view the documentary, and read a transcript of the documentary.

Sex crimes and the Vatican

(Thanks Trevor)

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