Roman Rota rules against dioceses, orders publishing ‘credibly accused’ clergy lists

I don’t want to reproduce much here so, regretfully, I’ll send you over to The Pillar for more.

• The Roman Rota, the Church’s highest ordinary court, ruled in favor of an American priest who sued his religious order over being included on a “credibly accused” list of clergy.
• The legal basis cited is canon 220 of the Code of Canon Law, which protects the good reputation of persons against “illegitimate harm.”
• According to the Italian daily La Repubblica, the case was heard on June 26 of this year, though the parties were unnamed.
• The article states that various Vatican departments have for years objected to the practice of publishing “credibly accused” lists without adequate canonical or civil process, especially if deceased persons are involved.
• Although the Rota’s decision would not automatically bind all U.S. dioceses and religious orders, it might spark similar defamation suits by priests whose names appear on such lists, thereby putting pressure on U.S. bishops and religious superiors to reconcile civil-law guidance with Roman canonical norms.