Church Secrecy and the
Prohibition to Release Information Form
Archdiocese of Philadelphia
October 2003
For a discussion of this form, see Mystery
Document Appears in Priest Probe, My Fox Philly, March 11, 2011;
and Philadelphia's Smoking Gun, by Michael Sean
Winters, National Catholic Reporter, March 12, 2011. See also a
PDF
of the Philadelphia archdiocesan form. The Prohibition to Release
Information Form is one of an extended family of instruments that
the Catholic church has used to control the free flow of information.
A small sample:
- Instruction:
On the manner of proceeding in cases of the crime of solicitation
(1922), see especially paragraphs 11
and 13.
- Oath
signed by Chancellor Maurice J. Dingman and Bishop Ralph L. Hayes,
promising to keep allegations against Rev. James Janssen secret
(10/3/58)
- Crimen
sollicitationis (3/16/62), see PDF page 21 for a witness's
oath of secrecy in proceedings regarding solicitation in the confessional
- Oath
used to swear survivors of sexual abuse by Rev. Brendan Smyth
O. Praem. to secrecy in a church investigation conducted by the
future Cardinal Sean Brady, Primate of All Ireland (3/29/75
and 4/4/75)
- Oath
signed by Rev. Eleuterio Ramos and Michael P. Driscoll, in which
Ramos, a pastor accused of sexual abuse, swears "to keep
secret whatever knowledge comes to me in the discharge of this
office" (6/11/84)
- Affidavit
by a survivor of sexual abuse by Rev. Joseph Birmingham, recounting
a meeting with Cardinal Law at Birmingham's funeral, when Cardinal
Law allegedly invoked the seal of the confessional to silence
the survivor (7/18/03; Birmingham died on 4/19/89)
- Memo by Rev. Brian M. Flatley, who was Cardinal
Law's abuse Delegate, noting that a decision by the review board
had been communicated orally to Rev Paul R. Shanley and that no
paper trail would be created (4/19/95), one of dozens of example
in the Boston files
- Settlement
with a survivor of sexual abuse by Rev. John Cotter, with confidentiality
provisions (5/15/95)
- Settlement
with a survivor of sexual abuse by Rev. George Rosenkranz, with
confidentiality provisions (2/3/98)
- Agreement
to Mediate in the Diocese of Providence settlement, with a confidentiality
clause (2002)
- Cardinals'
Oath of Secrecy on Receiving Biretta, Zenit (10/21/03)
- Affidavit
of Thomas Doyle on church secrecy (5/24/04), with links to
canon law provisions and documents
Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Prohibition to Release Information
(pertaining to reported sexual abuse by clergy, other religious,
and lay employees)
I, (Printed Name), hereby prohibit (Name of staff) of the Archdiocese
of Philadelphia, from releasing to the appropriate law enforcement
authorities of (Location where incident occurred) any information
I provide about alleged sexual abuse by an official or employee
of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia unless I disclose information
which is mandated to be reported. I understand that this is contrary
to the policy of the Archdiocese. This prohibition shall remain
valid unless I provide written authorization to release any such
information.
I understand that any representative of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia,
including the person named above, must obey a court order, such
as a subpoena, to provide information that is so ordered. Such an
order will likely include the infornation mentioned above in this
prohibition.
I certify that this form has been fully explained to me and that
I understand its contents.
(Signature) (Date)
(Signature of person on behalf of minor) (Relationship) (Date)
10/03
|