VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis vowed Friday that the Catholic Church will never again treat abuse allegations without "seriousness and promptness", calling on abusers to hand themselves in to police. "The Church will never seek to hush up or not take seriously any case," the pope said in his annual address to the Church's governing Curia at the Vatican. The pope on Friday also called on for anyone who has committed child abuse, including priests, to hand themselves over to justice. 'Prepare for justice'"To those who abuse minors I would say this: convert and hand yourself over to human justice, and prepare for divine justice," the pope told Curia. The Church has been hit by a series of child abuse scandals in recent years, with widespread allegations of cover-ups, including against the pope himself.

Source: Philippine Star December 21, 2018 10:41 UTC