On Sunday, June 5, 2016, finally Pope Francis backed down and approved tough measures to sack the clergy who mishandle, or involve in, child sexual abuse. As the Pontiff empathised, bishops who are negligent in dealing with priests committing abuse will be removed under the new legal procedures. Ordinarily, the canon law allows for a bishop to be removed for negligence to sanction priests who involve in sexual abuse, but this time round the new measures precisely prescribe child abuse as ‘grave reasons’ that could lead to dismissal. The Papal stance intends to hold the clergy accountable if they fail to protect their flocks from paedophiles. Morally and spiritually speaking, religious leaders have the responsibility to protect their followers from sexual abuses.

The measures came in response to long-running demands by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in its "Second Periodic Report of the Holy See (CRC/C/VAT/2)”, adopted in January 2014. The Committee unearthed a number of clerical child abuses that were committed, especially in USA, Europe, Africa and Australia. During the presentation of the report, however, the committee noted the positive willingness expressed by the delegation of the Holy See to change attitudes and practices.It’s against that background that such concrete measures have been taken. They’re intended to hold the clergy accountable if they fail to protect their flocks from the growing scourge of pedophilia.

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child reminded the Holy See (known as the Vatican) its international obligation which stems from the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child as the Government of the Vatican City State and also as a sovereign subject of international law having an original, non-derived legal personality independent of any territorial authority or jurisdiction. The Committee also reminded the Holy See that in ratifying the Convention, it made a commitment to implement it not only within the territory of Vatican City State, but also, as the supreme power of the Catholic Church, worldwide through individuals and institutions under its authority.

As a result, the Pontiff set up a Vatican Commission to establish best practice in relation to abuse cases, including child molestation, to expose wrong doing in parishes in 2014. This goes without saying that the Pope was appalled by the cry of the victims and those suffering, ‘no family without a home, no child without a childhood’. Indeed, the tough measures taken against bishops who covered up abuse by transferring perpetrators from parish to parish rather than reporting them to police, reflects that the Pontiff has empathy for people in difficult situation. A simple example,just last year, Pope Francis described "leaving migrants to die in the Mediterranean as an attack against life similar to abortion or euthanasia, and the resulting crisis is on a par with malnutrition or war”.Generally, all religious paradigms ought to show love for their flocks, but, in a special way, care for and protect those who are weakest and defenceless. This is a moral and spiritual obligation of all churches irrespective of their beliefs.

Children are considered as part of vulnerable group entitled to special care and protection. Child’s rights ought to be taken in their best interests as a primary consideration. Across the world, children should be protected and defended in legislative, administrative and judicial proceedings. As well, policies, programmes and projects that are relevant to and which have a positive impact on children.

In this regard, I urge the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child to do similar credible investigations on French peacekeepers in the Central African Republic who sexually abused children as young as eight, as revealed by a UN whistleblower, Mr. Kompass, who recently resigned as the director of field operations at the UN human rights office in Geneva.

Responsibility to protect children is moral to everyone.From biblical perspective, Christians, as followers of Christ, believe in the God-given dignity of children, the church should lead in implementing safeguards. From the Bible’s opening chapter, God declares the value and dignity of children as human beings made in His own image (Genesis 1:27). God affirms that the children of His people are members of His covenant and one of His most precious gifts (Genesis 17:7; Psalm 127:3). God prioritizes children’s spiritual development by outlining the responsibilities and efforts Christian communities must devote to children (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). Jesus’ life demonstrates God’s love for children, placing children at the center of His kingdom.

How can the churches demonstrate love for children by effectively protecting them? Child-protection measures function best in a church environment that embodies both humility and courage. When church leaders humbly acknowledge the problem and courageously take responsibility for protecting children, they create a safer environment for children. Embracing humility allows ministry leaders to lay aside insecurities so that they can focus upon children’s needs. Courage counteracts the climate of secrecy and shame that engulfs child sexual abuse. As leaders break through the darkness of child sexual abuse, they will see situations that will require the courage to act for the sake of the little ones Jesus loves.

The writer is an International Law Expert.