Pope tightens oversight on creation of new religious orders
Associated PressROME — Pope Francis on Wednesday tightened oversight on creating new religious orders to exert more Vatican control over the process and prevent charlatans from duping the faithful. The new law was approved as the Vatican in recent years has cracked down on the founders of some religious orders and lay institutes after they were found to have been religious frauds who sexually or spiritually abused their members. Already the Vatican in 2016 told local bishops they must consult with it before approving a new religious order or risk having their decisions overturned. The new law says greater Vatican oversight was necessary to ensure the new orders meet the criteria of having a unique charism, or founding spirit, and to prevent unsustainably small communities from sprouting up in diocese after diocese.
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Pope cracks down on new Catholic religious start-ups
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