Catholic officials in France shed light on sex abuse: report

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Catholic priests in France will soon wear dog tags marked with a traffic light to let people know if they may have been charged with sexual abuse.

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The cards have a QR code that can be checked with a mobile phone Daily Mail reported.

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Once scanned, the QR code will display a red, orange, or green light depending on whether the priest has been stripped of all clerical status.

The plan announced on Wednesday will determine which priests will be able to lead mass and hear confessions.

Red lights apply to priests who have had their status revoked and are no longer able to perform spiritual duties. Orange lights indicate that a priest has limited powers due to experience or sanctions. Green lights show that a priest can perform all sacraments.

The database is updated once a year.

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The system is introduced as the Church in France tries to crack down on sexual abuse.

In November, 11 bishops were accused of sexual abuse in the French Catholic Church.

After a two-and-a-half year investigation, a report released in October 2021 revealed a history of abuse in the Church, with an estimated 330,000 victims of abuse over a 70-year period.