The Vatican has ordered Catholic bishops around the world to create clear, coordinated procedures to stop clergy abuse — by May 2012. The deadline is included in a new letter that the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith just sent out, signed by Cardinal William Levada (formerly of Portland and San Francisco, no stranger to the abuse scandal).

It’s still too little, too late for victims and their advocates, however. Also, in related news, Amnesty International has included the Vatican on its new list of human rights offenders, based on the abuse scandal in Ireland.

Check out these links:

• Vatican Tells Bishops to Set Clear Strategy Against Abuse (New York Times)
• Vatican Suggests Bishops Report Abuse to Police (Associated Press)
• Vatican sets May 2012 guideline for global abuse guidelines (Catholic News Agency)
• Top Vatican expert on sexual abuse explains new Catholic guidelines (Reuters FaithWorld)
• Who watches the watchmen? (Mark Silk for Spiritual Politics)

What do you think? Share your thoughts, and any other relevant links, in the Comments section below.