Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Vatican has for the first time made it clear that bishops and other high-ranking clergy should report clerical sex abuse to police.
It has insisted that this has long been the Catholic Church's policy. But in a new guide for lay readers posted today on its website, it made public for the first time an explicit policy of reporting abuse to law-enforcement.
The guidelines read: "Civil law concerning reporting of crimes to the appropriate authorities should always be followed."
The rest of the guidelines follow previously known and public procedures for handling canonical investigations and trials of suspected abuse.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments