Homepage

About Pontifical Secret

OPEN LETTER TO POPE LEO XIV

Your Holiness Pope Leo XIV,

I write to you not as a theologian or canon lawyer, but as a voice for victims, for truth — and for countless children silenced by the Catholic Church’s misuse of secrecy, power, and privilege.

For decades, the Vatican has protected perpetrators of child sexual abuse through internal secrecy over justice — under pontifical secrecy, knowingly moving known abusers between parishes, exposing more children to harm. These actions — documented in civil inquiries, royal commissions, and Kieran Tapsell’s “Potiphar’s Wife”— cannot be denied.

Your papacy offers a critical turning point. You have the power to begin a new chapter.

I respectfully urge you to:

  • enforce the classification of child sexual abuse as a grave crime with mandatory, permanent penalties;
  • extend the same penalties to bishops and clergy who conceal or cover up these crimes — and explicitly define such cover-ups as grave crimes;
  • introduce a one-strike policy: if a priest is found guilty of abuse, they must be dismissed from the clerical state;
  • remove all protections of pontifical secrecy in abuse cases — past, present, and future;
  • support full cooperation with civil justice systems in every country.

These actions will not undo the past, but will show the Church no longer tolerates the intolerable.

Justice demands it. Survivors deserve it. Jesus died for it.

With respect and hope for a renewed Church,

Joolsmagools®️ 👫 B4 ⛪️

11th May 2025

 
Link to “Kieran Tapsell.  Pope Francis Abolishes the Pontifical Secret Over Child Sexual Abuse” via John Menadue – Pearls and Irritations Blog dated 20DEC2019.
 
 
(My views are happily influenced by Kieran Tapsell, author of  “Potiphar’s Wife: The Secret of the Holy Office and Child Sexual Abuse”.  I recommend Tapsell’s book, his research and views on “Crimen Sollicitationis” and “Pontifical Secret”.
 
 
 
* AKA “Secret of the Holy Office”, “Secreta Continere”, “Papal Secrecy” & “Papal Secret”. Highest form of Secrecy, Code of Silence, Veil of Secrecy, Secrecy, Obligation of Silence, Obligation of Secrecy, Sulla riservatezza delle cause, “On the Confidentiality of Legal Proceedings”)
Madonnina
Pope Francis abolishes pontifical

Latest Posts

Madonnina
News

Angry over botched constitutional amendment, Pa. lawmakers call for action to aid child sexual abuse victims

Pennsylvania Kathy Boockvar Resignation Title: Angry over botched constitutional amendment, Pa. lawmakers call for action to aid child sexual abuse victims Author: Ivey DeJesus Publisher: PennLive.com Date: 01FEB2021 For some, it was a kick in the gut. Some lawmakers and advocates have fought for nearly a decade to reform the state’s child sex crime laws.

Read More »
Madonnina
Blog

Vatican Fails Again to Put Promise to Action – Reverses Diocese Decision That Sex Abuse Allegations Are Credible

Bishop Joseph H. Hart Title: Vatican Fails Again to Put Promise to Action – Reverses Diocese Decision That Sex Abuse Allegations Are Credible Author: Josh Peck Publisher: Anderson Advocates & Associates Date: 29JAN2021 Although a diocesan review board determined that at least six child sex abuse allegations against former Bishop Joseph H. Hart were credible,

Read More »
Madonnina
News

Germany: Calls for cardinal to release report on sexual abuse of minors

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki Title: Germany: Calls for Cardinal to release report of sexual abuse of minors Author: Deutsche Welle staff Publisher: Deutsche Welle Date: 29JAN2021 Pressure has increased on a Catholic cardinal over the release of a report on child sex abuse. The diocese council of Cologne says Cardinal Woelki has a moral obligation

Read More »
Madonnina
News

California bishops fighting 2019 clergy sex abuse law

Clergy Sex Abuse Law Title: California bishops fighting 2019 clergy sex abuse law Author: Robert Jablon Publisher: ABCNews via Associated Press Date: 28JAN2021 LOS ANGELES — Most California Roman Catholic bishops are asking a judge to throw out a 2019 law that allowed accusers of clergy sexual abuse to sue even if they were molested decades

Read More »
Madonnina
News

Conspiracy claims made against Age before Pell story published, court told

George Pell Guilty Verdict Title: Conspiracy claims made against Age before Pell story published, court told Author: Adam Cooper Publisher: The Age Date: 28JAN2021 Claims by some readers that The Age was part of a conspiracy protecting the Catholic Church and George Pell were a factor in the newspaper’s decision to publish its initial article about

Read More »
Madonnina
News

Vatican clears former Kansas City priest of sex abuse claims, infuriating victims

Wyoming Bishop Joseph Hart Title: Vatican clears former Kansas City priest of sex abuse claims, infuriating victims Author: Judy L. Thomas Video: Jill Toyoshiba Publisher: The Kansas City Star Date: 25Jan2021 Play Video https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article220286275.html ‘I couldn’t imagine that a man that I loved this much could do something so evil’ Susie McClernon is still dealing

Read More »