In an announcement praised by survivors and their advocates, Pope Francis has ended a policy of ponitifical secrecy surrounding abusive priests.

Pontifical secrecy was a policy that applied the highest levels of ecclesiastical secrecy that have historically been applied to cases of sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy.

Does the Edict Go Far Enough?

Victims who have survived sexual abuse at the hands of abusive priests and advocacy organizations have welcomed Pope Francis’ announcement. However, while agreeing that such an action is long overdue, they say that it is only a preliminary step toward preventing further abuse and holding pedophiles accountable for their crimes.

Archbishop Charles Scicluna, who heads the Vatican’s investigation of sexual crimes, hailed the Pope’s action as an “epochal decision,” and one that will allow for better communication and co-ordination with secular law enforcement agencies. Nonetheless, documents from the Church’s internal legal proceedings will continue to be unavailable to the general public.

A Boston-based attorney who has served as counsel for over 2,000 victims and survivors has also pointed out that the Pope’s abolition of the secrecy rule essentially gives law enforcement power they already have in most jurisdictions. Speaking to the Boston Herald, he said that the Pope should require senior clergy and other Church officials to report cases to law enforcement and make all relative documents publicly available.

Criticism

One victim who was abused between the ages of three and nine some four decades ago called the Pope’s action “smoke and mirrors.” She said, “If there’s no action behind it, it’s meaningless.”

Anne Barrett Doyle of BishopAccountability.org supports Pope Francis’ action, but says that the pontiff “… must enact true ‘zero tolerance’ for child abusers,” and mandate the “permanent removal” of all abusive priests who have been proven guilty of sex crimes against parishioners. Doyle points out that under ecclesiastical law, abusive priests are still permitted to serve as members of the clergy.

A Global Problem

While the problem of child molestation and sexual assault of minors has gotten a great deal of attention in the United States, the fact is that such crimes have been committed in virtually every nation on earth where the Roman Catholic Church maintains a significant presence.

The problem has even reached into the Pope’s inner circle; in February, 2019, Cardinal George Pell of Australia, one of Pope Francis’s closest advisers, was convicted on five counts of child abuse while he was archbishop of Melbourne.

Another high-level Vatican official, Cardinal Javier Errazuriz of Santiago, Chile, was also dismissed last year for his alleged role in covering up crimes committed by abusive priests.

Help for Survivors of Abusive Priests

A growing number of states have changed their laws, extending the statute of limitations on sex crimes, thus allowing survivors to continue seeking justice decades after the events occurred. On its part, the Roman Catholic Church has also established compensation funds for victims against which claims may be filed. In some cases, time is of the essence; for example, California victims have until Jan. 31 in order to file their claims.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.