No More Hush-Hush? Pope Abolishes ‘Pontifical Secret’ Rule In Sex Abuse Cases

Riyaz Patel

Pope Francis has abolished the Catholic Church’s ‘pontifical secrecy’ in cases of clerical sexual abuse in a major reform of canon law.

The Church previously shrouded sexual abuse cases in secrecy, in what it said was an effort to protect the privacy of victims and reputations of the accused.

The pontiff issued two new papal documents Tuesday, changing how the Church handles abuse cases involving minors and vulnerable persons, lifting restrictions on those who report abuse or claim they have been victims.

Francis’ predecessor, Benedict XVI, decreed in 2001 that information in abuse cases must be covered by ‘pontifical secrecy’ to protect the privacy of the victim and the reputation of the accused.

However, the move – the Church’s highest form of secrecy – has been heavily criticized for decades by victims for covering up abuses and preventing prosecution.