"Francis Abolishes Pontifical Secret in Clergy Abuse Cases, in Long Sought Reform" by Joshua McElwee, National Catholic Reporter, An Important Step Away from Institutional Secrecy and Coverup by Vatican

My Response: In the documentary film about Roman Catholic Women Priests "Pink Smoke Over the Vatican", I called for abolishing pontifical secret in clergy abuse cases. Finally, Pope Francis has listened to  the outrage of Catholics around the world on Vatican secrecy and institutional coverups. The removal of the so-called pontifical secret is an important step toward genuine transparency and accountability.  It is long overdue. A word of gratitude goes to Marie Collins and Anne Barret Doyle for their prophetic voices raising alarms bells on this and other justice issues that impact the well-being of survivors of clergy abuse. Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP

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Pope Francis reviews papers during the February meeting on the protection of minors in the church at the Vatican. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis Dec. 17 abolished the Catholic Church's practice of imposing strict confidentiality rules on the Vatican's legal proceedings in cases involving clergy sexual abuse or misconduct, in a reform sought for decades by abuse survivors and advocates.

In a brief but sweeping new instruction that goes into effect immediately, the pontiff states plainly that the practice, known as the pontifical secret, is no longer to apply to any accusations, proceedings, or final decisions involving clergy abuse.

While such matters will continue to be treated with a lower level of confidentiality, the pope also specifies that anyone who files a report, alleges abuse, or comes forward as a witness to abuse "shall not be bound by any obligation of silence with regard to matters involving the case..."

"...There's no need for this top-heavy law, especially concerning sex abuse cases," Maltese Archbishop Charles Scicluna, the Vatican's leading abuse prosecutor, said at the time.

Anne Barret Doyle, the co-director of the U.S.-based clergy abuse watchdog group BishopAccountability.org, called the change "an overdue and desperately needed step" in an email.

"For decades, pontifical secrecy has been an inexcusable obstruction to civil justice," said Doyle. "Let's hope this reform is a first step toward decreasing the anti-victim bias of canon law -- a system skewed towards protecting the abuser and saving his priesthood."

Most matters handled by offices at the Vatican are kept under a base level of secrecy known as the "secret of the office," but more serious issues have traditionally been subject to the pontifical secret, violation of which can trigger severe penalties, including excommunication..."