Kirchenakte Documented events from judgments, reports and church documents
1922-2003 · 81 years · show in timeline

Crimen sollicitationis, secret instruction of the Holy Office on abuse cases involving clergy (1922, 1962)

In 1922 the Holy Office issued an instruction to the bishops on how to deal with cases of solicitation in the confessional, homosexual acts by clerics and sexual abuse of prepubescent children; in 1962 it was reissued with the approval of John XXIII. All involved, including victims and witnesses, had to swear secrecy, the court personnel on pain of excommunication. Dismissal from the clerical state was provided for only if there was hardly any hope of amendment. The document was not to be published; the Holy See confirmed its existence only in 2001.

Period
1922-2003 (81 years)
Country
Vatican City
Institutions
Holy Office (today the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith)
Pope Pius XI
Pope John XXIII
Category
Sexual abuse, Cover-up
Level of evidence
A Primary source · what does this mean?
Persons
John XXIII (Pope, confirmed the new edition in 1962)
Pius XI (Pope, under whom the instruction was issued in 1922)
Alfredo Ottaviani (Cardinal, Secretary of the Holy Office, signed in 1962)

What happened to the people

Who was affected? Victims and numbers

  1. No. 73 of the instruction equated, in its penal effects, any gravely sinful obscene act by a cleric with prepubescent children of either sex with the "crimen pessimum", as well as bestiality.
    Evidence: Heiliger Stuhl, Kongregation des Heiligen Offiziums, Nr. 73
    „Equated with the crimen pessimum, with regard to penal effects, is any external obscene act, gravely sinful, perpetrated or attempted by a cleric in any way with pre-adolescent children [ impuberes ] of either sex or with brute animals ( bestialitas ).“
    Instruction on the Manner of Proceeding in Causes involving the Crime of Solicitation (Crimen sollicitationis), 16. März 1962, englische Übersetzung des Vatikans, Nr. 73. Original

How were they charged and sentenced?

  1. Everyone involved with the church court was bound to the strictest secrecy, the "secret of the Holy Office". Whoever broke it was automatically excommunicated, and only the pope himself could lift the penalty. Concluded cases were to be covered by "permanent silence".
    Evidence: Heiliger Stuhl, Kongregation des Heiligen Offiziums, Nr. 11
    „once decided and the decision executed, they are covered by permanent silence“
    Instruction on the Manner of Proceeding in Causes involving the Crime of Solicitation (Crimen sollicitationis), 16. März 1962, englische Übersetzung des Vatikans, Nr. 11. Original
    Evidence: Heiliger Stuhl, Kongregation des Heiligen Offiziums, Nr. 11
    „commonly known as the secret of the Holy Office , in all things and with all persons, under pain of incurring automatic excommunication, ipso facto and undeclared, reserved to the sole person of the Supreme Pontiff“
    Instruction on the Manner of Proceeding in Causes involving the Crime of Solicitation (Crimen sollicitationis), 16. März 1962, englische Übersetzung des Vatikans, Nr. 11. Original
  2. Accusers, that is, the victims, and witnesses also had to swear the oath of secrecy. They faced a church penalty only if they had been expressly warned of it in the proceedings. The accused was to be earnestly admonished to keep silent as well.
    Evidence: Heiliger Stuhl, Kongregation des Heiligen Offiziums, Nr. 13
    „The oath to maintain confidentiality must always be taken in these causes, also by the accusers or complainants and the witnesses. These persons, however, are subject to no censure, unless they were expressly warned of this in the proceedings of accusation, deposition or questioning.“
    Instruction on the Manner of Proceeding in Causes involving the Crime of Solicitation (Crimen sollicitationis), 16. März 1962, englische Übersetzung des Vatikans, Nr. 13. Original
    Evidence: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Australien), Final Report Bd. 16 Buch 2, Abschnitt 13.2.2, S. 53 (PDF-S. 63)
    „The accuser or complainants and witnesses were also sworn to secrecy“
    Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Final Report, Volume 16: Religious institutions, Book 2, Final Report Bd. 16 Buch 2, Abschnitt 13.2.2, S. 53 (PDF-S. 63). Original · Archive copy
  3. If after the preliminary investigation the evidence was not sufficient for a formal charge, for example because there were only one or two denunciations, the bishop was merely to admonish the accused in a paternal or grave manner and threaten him with a trial in the event of a new accusation.
    Evidence: Heiliger Stuhl, Kongregation des Heiligen Offiziums, Nr. 42 c
    „as is the case especially when there are only one or two denunciations with regular diligences but lacking or containing insufficiently solid subsidiary proofs“
    Instruction on the Manner of Proceeding in Causes involving the Crime of Solicitation (Crimen sollicitationis), 16. März 1962, englische Übersetzung des Vatikans, Nr. 42 c. Original
    Evidence: Heiliger Stuhl, Kongregation des Heiligen Offiziums, Nr. 42 c
    „he is to order that the accused be admonished, according to the different types of cases (Formula M), by a first or a second warning, paternally , gravely or most gravely“
    Instruction on the Manner of Proceeding in Causes involving the Crime of Solicitation (Crimen sollicitationis), 16. März 1962, englische Übersetzung des Vatikans, Nr. 42 c. Original
  4. Dismissal from the clerical state was provided for as the ultimate penalty only if there seemed to be "no hope, humanly speaking, or almost no hope" of amendment. In addition, the instruction provided for penances such as spiritual exercises in a religious house; those in danger of relapsing and recidivists were to be subjected to special supervision.
    Evidence: Heiliger Stuhl, Kongregation des Heiligen Offiziums, Nr. 63
    „that there seems to be no hope, humanly speaking, or almost no hope, of his amendment“
    Instruction on the Manner of Proceeding in Causes involving the Crime of Solicitation (Crimen sollicitationis), 16. März 1962, englische Übersetzung des Vatikans, Nr. 63. Original
    Evidence: Heiliger Stuhl, Kongregation des Heiligen Offiziums, Nr. 64
    „chiefly spiritual exercises, to be made for a certain number of days in some religious house, with suspension from the celebration of Mass during that period“
    Instruction on the Manner of Proceeding in Causes involving the Crime of Solicitation (Crimen sollicitationis), 16. März 1962, englische Übersetzung des Vatikans, Nr. 64. Original
    Evidence: Heiliger Stuhl, Kongregation des Heiligen Offiziums, Nr. 64
    „Those in danger of relapsing and, even more, recidivists, are to be subjected to special supervision“
    Instruction on the Manner of Proceeding in Causes involving the Crime of Solicitation (Crimen sollicitationis), 16. März 1962, englische Übersetzung des Vatikans, Nr. 64. Original

What happened to those affected?

  1. Because of its secret distribution in 1922 and 1962, some concluded that the instruction was not even widely known to those for whom it was intended. A lawyer who publishes on canon law testified before the Royal Commission that the secret of the Holy Office was a permanent silence that bound not only the bishop and those involved in the proceedings but also victims and witnesses.
    Evidence: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Australien), Final Report Bd. 16 Buch 2, Abschnitt 13.2.2, S. 53 (PDF-S. 63)
    „the secretive manner in which Crimen sollicitationis was promulgated in both 1922 and 1962 has led some to conclude that it was not widely known, even by those for whose use it was intended“
    Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Final Report, Volume 16: Religious institutions, Book 2, Final Report Bd. 16 Buch 2, Abschnitt 13.2.2, S. 53 (PDF-S. 63). Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Australien), Final Report Bd. 16 Buch 2, Abschnitt 13.2.2, S. 53 (PDF-S. 63)
    „the secret of the Holy Office was a permanent silence that bound not only the bishop and those involved in the canonical inquiries and trial, but victims and witnesses who were sworn to observe that secrecy“
    Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Final Report, Volume 16: Religious institutions, Book 2, Final Report Bd. 16 Buch 2, Abschnitt 13.2.2, S. 53 (PDF-S. 63). Original · Archive copy

Background

Course of events

  1. In 1922, under Pope Pius XI, the Holy Office (today the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) issued the instruction that became known as "Crimen sollicitationis". It dealt mainly with solicitation in connection with confession, but also covered sexual acts by clerics with prepubescent children. In 1962, under Pope John XXIII, it was reissued in slightly amended form and extended to priests in religious orders.
    Evidence: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Australien), Final Report Bd. 16 Buch 2, Abschnitt 13.2.2, S. 52 (PDF-S. 62)
    „In 1922, during the pontificate of Pope Pius XI, the Holy Office (now the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, or CDF) issued an instruction that came to be known as Crimen sollicitationis“
    Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Final Report, Volume 16: Religious institutions, Book 2, Final Report Bd. 16 Buch 2, Abschnitt 13.2.2, S. 52 (PDF-S. 62). Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Australien), Final Report Bd. 16 Buch 2, Abschnitt 13.2.2, S. 52 (PDF-S. 62)
    „In 1962, during the pontificate of Pope John XXIII, the Holy Office reissued a slightly amended version of Crimen sollicitationis, which expanded its coverage to include priests who were members of religious orders as well as diocesan clergy.“
    Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Final Report, Volume 16: Religious institutions, Book 2, Final Report Bd. 16 Buch 2, Abschnitt 13.2.2, S. 52 (PDF-S. 62). Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Heiliger Stuhl, Kongregation des Heiligen Offiziums, Schluss, Audienz vom 16. März 1962
    „His Holiness Pope John XXIII, in an audience granted to the Most Eminent Cardinal Secretary of the Holy Office on 16 March 1962, graciously approved and confirmed this Instruction“
    Instruction on the Manner of Proceeding in Causes involving the Crime of Solicitation (Crimen sollicitationis), 16. März 1962, englische Übersetzung des Vatikans, Schluss, Audienz vom 16. März 1962. Original

Why? Justification and motives (according to the sources)

  1. The instruction itself gives as the reason for secrecy that these cases must be treated with more than usual care and the utmost confidentiality. It justifies the duty to denounce by saying that the offence mostly takes place without witnesses and would otherwise almost always remain hidden and unpunished. The communications between bishops about convicted priests were "of the utmost importance for the common good of the Church".
    Evidence: Heiliger Stuhl, Kongregation des Heiligen Offiziums, Nr. 11
    „more than usual care and concern must be shown that they be treated with the utmost confidentiality“
    Instruction on the Manner of Proceeding in Causes involving the Crime of Solicitation (Crimen sollicitationis), 16. März 1962, englische Übersetzung des Vatikans, Nr. 11. Original
    Evidence: Heiliger Stuhl, Kongregation des Heiligen Offiziums, Nr. 15
    „lest it remain almost always hidden and unpunished with inestimable detriment to souls“
    Instruction on the Manner of Proceeding in Causes involving the Crime of Solicitation (Crimen sollicitationis), 16. März 1962, englische Übersetzung des Vatikans, Nr. 15. Original
    Evidence: Heiliger Stuhl, Kongregation des Heiligen Offiziums, Nr. 70
    „since they are of the utmost importance for the common good of the Church“
    Instruction on the Manner of Proceeding in Causes involving the Crime of Solicitation (Crimen sollicitationis), 16. März 1962, englische Übersetzung des Vatikans, Nr. 70. Original

Response of the Church

  1. The document bore the note that it was to be carefully kept in the secret archive of the curia and was neither to be published nor commented on. It was not published in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis in 1922 and 1962 as was usual. The Holy See publicly confirmed its existence only in 2001; in 2003 it appeared on the Vatican website when it was no longer in force.
    Evidence: Heiliger Stuhl, Kongregation des Heiligen Offiziums, Titelblatt
    „TO BE KEPT CAREFULLY IN THE SECRET ARCHIVE OF THE CURIA FOR INTERNAL USE . NOT TO BE PUBLISHED OR AUGMENTED WITH COMMENTARIES“
    Instruction on the Manner of Proceeding in Causes involving the Crime of Solicitation (Crimen sollicitationis), 16. März 1962, englische Übersetzung des Vatikans, Titelblatt. Original
    Evidence: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Australien), Final Report Bd. 16 Buch 2, Abschnitt 13.2.2, S. 52 (PDF-S. 62)
    „In both 1922 and 1962, Crimen sollicitationis was not promulgated in the usual way in the official acts of the Holy See, the Acta apostolicae sedis.“
    Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Final Report, Volume 16: Religious institutions, Book 2, Final Report Bd. 16 Buch 2, Abschnitt 13.2.2, S. 52 (PDF-S. 62). Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Australien), Final Report Bd. 16 Buch 2, Abschnitt 13.2.2, S. 52 (PDF-S. 62)
    „The Holy See first publicly acknowledged the existence of Crimen sollicitationis in 2001, and the document was first published on the Vatican website in 2003, by which time it was no longer in force.“
    Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Final Report, Volume 16: Religious institutions, Book 2, Final Report Bd. 16 Buch 2, Abschnitt 13.2.2, S. 52 (PDF-S. 62). Original · Archive copy

Original texts

Original text Crimen sollicitationis (1962), no. 11: permanent silence

once decided and the decision executed, they are covered by permanent silence

Heiliger Stuhl, Kongregation des Heiligen Offiziums: Instruction on the Manner of Proceeding in Causes involving the Crime of Solicitation (Crimen sollicitationis), 16. März 1962, englische Übersetzung des Vatikans, Nr. 11. Original

See also

Original documents to read

  1. Church document
    Heiliger Stuhl, Kongregation des Heiligen Offiziums: Instruction on the Manner of Proceeding in Causes involving the Crime of Solicitation (Crimen sollicitationis), 16. März 1962, englische Übersetzung des Vatikans, 16 March 1962. Original (retrieved 15 Oct 2026)
  2. Government report
    Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Australien): Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Final Report, Volume 16: Religious institutions, Book 2, 15 December 2017. Original · Archive copy (retrieved 11 Oct 2026)
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Last changed on 22 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.