Pope Francis has taken the unprecedented step of setting up a Vatican-based tribunal to judge bishops accused of covering up child abuse by paedophile priests.<br /><br /> The initiative follows a recommendation from the Pope’s newly created panel on clerical sex abuse.<br /><br /> Pope creates tribunal for bishops in sex-abuse cases (http://t.co/Pr5RRHdJTQ) http://t.co/w3SwzRa2TF pic.twitter.com/r3yEAxU8lB— 1001portails US (@1001ptUS) June 10, 2015<br /><br /> Bishops may also be punished for failing to prevent sexual abuse of minors according to Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi: <br /><br /> “The thing that is new is that a specific procedure is now indicated for these questions that may have to do with a bishop’s abuse of office.This certainly was not in place before, an ordinary and clear path, this is the real new aspect.”<br /><br /> To be more specific, the new department will come under the auspices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican’s doctrinal arm, “ to judge bishops with regard to cr
