‘Pontifical secrecy’ sounds less like a policy and more like the plot point of a Dan Brown novel, but until just this week, it was what allowed the Catholic Church to protect clergy members accused of sexual abuse. On Tuesday Pope Francis ended the use of pontifical secrecy and “decreed that information in abuse cases must be protected by church leaders to ensure its ‘security, integrity, and confidentiality,’” according to a report by the Associated Press. He also ruled that pontifical secrecy cannot be invoked in instances of “abuse-related accusations, trials, and decisions under the Catholic Church’s canon law.”
that sexual abuse needed to be handled in-house under pontifical secrecy—will allow for Church officials and clergy members to participate in investigations with law enforcement. Pope Francis has also decreed that pornographic images
of anyone under 18 will be officially considered child pornography. The change may seem long overdue, but for an operation still functioning under the law of the Council of Nicea, any progress is glacial at best.The Pope’s new ruling also comes with flaws, much like the vicar himself.
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