This archive report was first published on 18 December 2019.
On December 18, 2019, Pope Francis made a significant move in addressing the Catholic Church's handling of sexual abuse cases involving clergy members. He abolished the Vatican's secrecy rules, which had long protected investigations and proceedings from public scrutiny.
Under the previous rules, known as 'Pontifical Secrecy,' administrative cases and investigations were kept confidential, even from victims. This secrecy was so deeply ingrained that violating it would result in automatic excommunication from the Church.
However, critics argue that the secrecy was often misused by implicated clergy members, who would refuse to cooperate with civil authorities. The decision to abolish these rules is seen as a step towards greater transparency and accountability within the Church.
According to Vatican Investigator Charles Scicluna, the move marks a significant shift towards implementing transparency at the highest level. 'This means the question of transparency is now being implemented at the highest level,' he said in a statement to CNN.
While the decision is being hailed as a positive step, advocates for greater transparency are calling for more action. Mattias Katsch, founder of the advocacy group Ending Clergy Abuse and a survivor of abuse, emphasized the need for independent review and investigation of the thousands of abuse cases stored in Vatican chambers and palaces.
