Kirchenakte Documented events from judgments, reports and church documents
2018-2020 · 2 years · show in timeline

Colombia 2020: The Constitutional Court compels the Archdiocese of Medellín to give information on priests to an investigating journalist; ecclesiastical secrecy is not absolute

In 2018 a journalist asked the Archdiocese of Medellín and the Salesians for information on 43 priests as part of an investigation into a possible child-abuse network. Both refused. On 3 March 2020 the Constitutional Court ruled that canonical confidentiality is not absolute in cases of sexual abuse and ordered the archdiocese to grant access within 48 hours.

Period
2018-2020 (2 years)
Report published
3 March 2020
Country
Colombia
Institutions
Archdiocese of Medellín
Salesians, Province of San Luis Beltrán
Category
Sexual abuse, Cover-up
Level of evidence
A Primary source · what does this mean?

What happened to the people

How were they charged and sentenced?

  1. On 3 March 2020 the court set aside the previous decision and ordered the Archdiocese of Medellín to grant access to the requested information within 48 hours.
    Evidence: Corte Constitucional de Colombia, Tenor
    „ORDENAR a la Arquidiócesis de Medellín que, dentro de las cuarenta y ocho (48) horas siguientes“
    Sentencia T-091/20, 3. März 2020, Tenor. Original

Background

Course of events

  1. For an investigation into a possible network of child abuse and sexual abuse, a journalist filed requests for information on 43 priests with the Salesians and the Archdiocese of Medellín.
    Evidence: Corte Constitucional de Colombia, Antecedentes
    „solicitó información acerca de 43 sacerdotes que pertenecían a estas organizaciones religiosas“
    Sentencia T-091/20, 3. März 2020, Antecedentes. Original

Response of the Church

  1. The court finds that the duty of confidentiality in abuse cases is not absolute even under canon law and must yield to values or rights deserving greater protection.
    Evidence: Corte Constitucional de Colombia, Leitsatz
    „el deber de confidencialidad en casos de abuso sexual no es absoluto“
    Sentencia T-091/20, 3. März 2020, Leitsatz. Original

Original documents to read

  1. Judgment
    Corte Constitucional de Colombia: Sentencia T-091/20, 3. März 2020, 3 March 2020. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)
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Last changed on 31 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.