AP News. December 15, 2019 -- This article describes the Pope's recent decision to lift secrecy requirements related to childhood sexual abuse in the Church. While this may be a step in the right direction it does not go far enough. The Catholic Church owes victims of clergy sexual abuse full transparency and it must institute serious youth protection guidelines like many other youth serving organizations have done to keep its children safe. While the internal investigations of pedophile clergy will no longer be held to the level of Pontifical secrecy they remain secret.
According to Irwin Zalkin, attorney for clergy abuse victims, the Pope's decision is just “a distinction without a meaningful difference. Clergy are now encouraged to cooperate with law enforcement. They shouldn’t have to be “encouraged.” It should be mandatory.”
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