CDF

The Vatican ‘Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’. Its original function is to monitor clerical theologians for what it considers ‘right teaching’ or orthodoxy. It dates from the Middle Ages – when it was known as the Roman Inquisition. Later it became the ‘Holy Office’. More recently it has also taken charge of the issue of clerical sexual abuse globally. It is especially controversial for its practice of censoring theologians without an opportunity for a hearing – often on the basis of anonymous complaints.