The Italian Episcopal Conference's Bagnasco
describes sexual abuse committed within the Church as a
"serious wound".
Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco also spoke of the
Roman Catholic Church's commitment to fighting sexual abuses
committed by members of the Church "in keeping" with the
guidelines set out by the Pope as the once head of the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Bagnasco, speaking
at close of the Italian Episcopal Conference's General
Assembly, also said national guidelines are "in an advanced
drafting stage".
"As bishops we have been working with
qualified experts, including bishops, with a view to providing
a full enactment of the Holy See's directives."
The cardinal
also submitted that the final draft will be delivered ahead of
schedule, prior to May 2012.