Accountability Transparency Pontifical Secret Title: Legal lessons: Past abuse cases help train canon lawyers Author: Carol Glatz Publisher: The Catholic Spirit Date: 07APR2021 When Pope Francis abolished the “pontifical secret” covering the church’s judicial handling of cases of the sexual abuse of minors, it was hailed as a major step forward in promoting greater transparency
Author: Gerard O’Connell Publication: America Magazine Date: 17DEC2019 In a decision of enormous importance, long called for by survivors of abuse and their advocates, Pope Francis has abolished the pontifical secret for sexual misconduct cases concerning clerics. The “pontifical secret” is not related to the seal of the confessional, which remains absolute (and inviolable) in
Kieran Tapsell Canon Law Author: Kieran Tapsell Publication: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse Date: 24JAN2017 Executive Summary 1. Dr Austin’s report of 28 November 2016 to the Royal Commission states that bishops and religious superiors have an obligation to report child sexual abuse to the civil authorities where the civil law