La risposta di Lombardi (in inglese)

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, was shown the documents and was asked to respond to questions about the case. He provided a statement saying that Father Murphy had certainly violated “particularly vulnerable” children and the law, and that it was a “tragic case.” But he pointed out that the Vatican was not forwarded the case until 1996, years after civil authorities had investigated the case and dropped it.

Father Lombardi emphasized that neither the Code of Canon Law nor the Vatican norms issued in 1962, which instruct bishops to conduct canonical investigations and trials in secret, prohibited church officials from reporting child abuse to civil authorities. He did not address why that had never happened in this case.
As to why Father Murphy was never defrocked, he said that “the Code of Canon Law does not envision automatic penalties.” He said that Father Murphy’s poor health and the lack of more recent accusations against him were factors in the decision.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/world/europe/25vatican.html?hp

Non me sento di tradurre perche' non voglio commettere errori.
Spetta al Vaticano dare una riposta e tradurla nelle varie lingue. Quanto scritto qui sopra non e' sufficiente. Occorre una strategia mondiale.
R.