Pope Francis’ Motu proprio, "Vos estis lux mundi", establishes new procedures for reporting abuse and violence, and ensures that Bishops and Religious Superiors are held accountable for their actions. It includes the obligation for clerics and religious to report abuse. Every Diocese must have a system that allows the public to submit reports easily.

By Andrea Tornielli
"Vos estis lux mundi”. “You are the light of the world… Our Lord Jesus Christ calls every believer to be a shining example of virtue, integrity and holiness”. The Gospel of Matthew provides the title and first words of Pope Francis’ new Motu proprio dedicated to the fight against sexual abuse committed by clerics and religious, as well as the actions or omissions of Bishops and Religious Superiors that in any way interfere with or fail to investigate abuse. The Pope recalls that “the crimes of sexual abuse offend Our Lord, cause physical, psychological and spiritual damage to the victims and harm the community of the faithful", and mentions the special responsibility of the Successors of the Apostles to prevent these crimes. The document represents another result of the Meeting on the Protection of Minors held in the Vatican in February 2019. It establishes new procedural rules to combat sexual abuse and to ensure that Bishops and Religious Superiors are held accountable for their actions. It establishes universal norms, which apply to the whole Catholic Church.
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Obituary

Mr Anthony Yeo Pway Soo, father of Fr Timothy Yeo, passed away on 2 May 2019. He was 93.

Mr Yeo’s wake will be held at Block 717, Woodlands Drive 70, Singapore 730717. Night prayers will be held at 7.00 PM (Mandarin) and at 8.00 PM (English).

Funeral Mass
Date: 6 May 2019 (Mon)
Time: 12.30 PM
Venue: Church of St Anthony, 25 Woodlands Ave 1, Singapore 739064
Note: The cortege leaves at 12.00 PM on 6 May 2019.

The Archdiocese extends condolences to Fr Timothy Yeo and his family in this time of loss and assures them of our fraternal prayers and support.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

With the words of the Risen Lord to His fearful apostles hiding behind closed doors in fear, I greet you all, “Peace be with you!”  

It is with deep sadness that you gather today to mourn the loss of the lives of so many of our brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka, and those who were injured in the terrorist attack on the most holy day of our Christian celebrations. As Christians we believe that because the Lord is risen, death is not the end of everything but a passage to new life. So, in faith and love, we pray for those whose lives had perished, and for their loved ones who are left behind to pick up the pieces and to carry on with their lives, as well as for the speedy recovery of those who have been injured.
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Dear Brothers and Sisters, Happy Easter!

Today the Church renews the proclamation made by the first disciples: “Jesus is risen!” And from mouth to mouth, from heart to heart, there resounds a call to praise: “Alleluia, Alleluia!” On this morning of Easter, the perennial youth of the Church and of humanity as a whole, I would like to address each of you in the opening words of my recent Apostolic Exhortation devoted especially to young people:

“Christ is alive! He is our hope, and in a wonderful way he brings youth to our world. Everything he touches becomes young, new, full of life. The very first words, then, that I would like to say to every young Christian are these: Christ is alive and he wants you to be alive! He is in you, he is with you and he never abandons you. However far you may wander, he is always there, the Risen One. He calls you and he waits for you to return to him and start over again. When you feel you are growing old out of sorrow, resentment or fear, doubt or failure, he will always be there to restore your strength and your hope” (Christus Vivit, 1-2).
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