The Bishops’ Conference of France, or CEF, has announced that all clergymen, including bishops, priests, and deacons, will be issued id cards with QR codes in a bid to protect worshippers from sexual abuse by clerics.
The CEF deputy general secretary, said the colour coded information on the card will allow people to identify if a priest has been sanctioned or is not properly trained. When scanned, green means they are allowed to administer sacraments without any restrictions; orange indicates limited power; and red signifies suspension of clerical status. In addition, the ID cards would help keep track of the activities of priests who perform services outside their dioceses and accompany worshippers on pilgrimages or act as counselors to groups of young people.
The catholic church in France and other countries have come under scrutiny due to cases of sexual abuse by its clergymen since 1950, with an estimate of between 2900 and 3200 offenders.
