What happens to a priest when he molests a child?

Answer 1

A:What ought to happen is that his superiors report their suspicions to the police or other relevant civil authorities as soon as they have any reason to believe that a crime has been committed, and the police investigate and determine whether a prosecution should take place. What should happen is that the Church cooperates fully and in every way with any police investigation. In some jusridictions, senior clergy could face severe penalties for failing to provide information to the police, although to date these laws have almost never been enacted against members of the clergy.

What really happens is that the Church authorities conduct their own internal investigation, following which the paedophile priest could face internal discipline, although perhaps he could avoid any punishment for his first known offence if he sincerely repents, confesses his sin and promises not to reoffend. In any case, the penalties he could face are surprisingly light, limited at maximum to dismissal "if the case so warrants." The Church's Code of Canon Law 1395:2 sets out the penalties to be imposed for the most serious sex crimes a priest could commit: "A cleric who has offended in other ways against the sixth commandment of the Decalogue, if the crime was committed by force, or by threats, or in public, or with a minor under the age of sixteen years, is to be punished with just penalties, not excluding dismissal from the clerical state if the case so warrants."

This may be changing in some jurisdictions, as a result of public and legal pressure. There is a chance that a child who comes forward will receive support, justice and pastoral care from the Church authorities. However, it still seems to be the case in other jurisdictions that the child will be pointedly disbelieved or perhaps paid a sum of money in return for silence.