The Secret Archive
A fight to access the Colombian Catholic Church's hidden denunciations of child sexual abuse by priests.
Can. 489 §1. In the diocesan curia there is also to be a secret archive, or at least in the common archive there is to be a safe or cabinet, completely closed and locked, which cannot be removed; in it documents to be kept secret are to be protected most securely.
§2. Each year documents of criminal cases in matters of morals, in which the accused parties have died or ten years have elapsed from the condemnatory sentence, are to be destroyed. A brief summary of what occurred along with the text of the definitive sentence is to be retained.
Article 489, Code of Canon Law
"
"
"
"
What is the Secret Archive?
A Global Presence
The Vatican as a State
This means a secret archive exists in every city with a Catholic Church presence.
We are not just talking about a religious group, but a State (the Vatican) that actively works to protect abusers and these archives worldwide.
This structure is used to centralize and conceal complaints on a global scale.
■
■
■
216k
France
Child abuses by priests (1950-2020)
200k
Spain
Child abuses by priests (1950-2020)
100k+
United States
Cases reported without a full national investigation.
The Shocking Numbers
The Colombian Case
The Abuser Network
Our research counts the number of abuser priests, not just abuses, to understand the network of complicity.
So far, we have revealed 700 names of denounced priests.
This is only 13% of the info requested.
If the trend holds, it could be 4,000-5,000 priests out of 10,000 in the country.
■
■
■
■
"Every person has the right to submit respectful petitions to the authorities for reasons of general or particular interest and to obtain a prompt resolution."
Article 23, Constitution of Colombia
"
"
The Legal Basis in Colombia
The First Legal Action
The "Tutela"
In 2019, I petitioned the Archbishop of Medellín about 105 priests.
He refused to answer.
I filed an "acción de tutela"—a legal action to protect a fundamental right.
Asking questions is a fundamental right.
■
■
■
■
The Constitutional Court
Ruling T-091-20
I lost the tutela in two lower courts, which sided with Church autonomy.
The Constitutional Court (which selects <1% of cases) chose our case for review.
In 2020, they issued Ruling T-091-20, forcing the Archbishop to respond.
■
■
■
Argument 1: Rights of Minors
The Court established that the rights of minors prevail over all other rights, including the Church's autonomy.
Argument 2: Semi-Private Info
The info was "semi-private" (about crimes), not "private" (like medical records), and of clear public interest.
The Court's Arguments
The Second Battle
The Refusal
The data revealed 35 of the 105 priests had abused minors.
I petitioned for the remaining 915 priests. The Archbishop refused again.
The Court issued Ruling SU-191 of 2022, ordering him to respond.
He did not comply.
■
■
■
■
137 Petitions: Sent to all dioceses in Colombia, revealing the 700 names (13% of total).
120 "Tutelas": Filed across the country.
Ruling SU-184 (2025): Orders ALL BISHOPS to hand over the secret archive, compelling them to deliver the 87% of the remaining information.
Awaiting Notification: We are now waiting to file for contempt (jail time) against bishops who fail to comply.
■
■
■
■
A New National Strategy