Santiago, Chile, May 1, 2019 / 09:35 am
The Chilean bishops' conference signed a collaboration agreement with public prosecutors Tuesday to streamline the investigation of clerical sexual abuse.
The April 30 agreement is meant "to facilitate the exchange of information concerning past, present, and future investigations of delicts of a sexual nature commited by diocesan clerics against children, adolescents, or persons with disabilities."
The agreement protects the "confidentiality requested by those who have gone to the Episcopal Conference of Chile" as victims or witnesses.
The bishops have consented to deliver evidence of abuse-related crimes to prosecutors within 24 hours of receiving an accusation.