ROME (ITALY)
National Public Radio
December 17, 2019
By Bill Chappell
[AUDIO]
Pope Francis is giving legal authorities access to documents and testimony about sexual abuse cases that were previously kept under the Catholic Church’s highest level of confidentiality. By abolishing the concept known as the “pontifical secret” when it comes to clergy misconduct, Francis will also let victims see more information about their cases — and speak out about their experience.
“The person who files the report, the person who alleges to have been harmed and the witnesses shall not be bound by any obligation of silence with regard to matters involving the case,” according to the new policy, which was instituted Tuesday in the form of a rescript — a church decree approved by Francis and signed by the Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin.
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