Madrid, Nov. 14 (K13 News) — Carlos Morán, dean of the Rota Tribunal, declared today that reforming Canon Law is necessary to ensure that victims of pedophilic abuses in the Church are granted an effective defense.
According to El País, on its front page, Morán asserted that such modification would enable individuals affected by sexual abuse to pursue personal legal actions: propose evidence, file individual accusations, receive judicial rulings, appeal decisions, and obtain direct access to the contents of court proceedings.
Lack of legal mechanisms for survivors
The dean emphasized that currently canon law does not provide any mechanism allowing a victim to act as a primary party in litigation, thus limiting their ability to achieve justice. "There is no provision within the code enabling victims to exercise their right to defense," he stated during an interview published by El País.
No details have been provided about when or how this change might be implemented nor whether it has already been formally proposed to the Pontifical Council. The reform still lacks official backing from higher ecclesiastical institutions and operates without a valid legal framework for practical application.
Legal and canonical context
The Canon Law, the normative framework governing internal structures of the Catholic Church, currently permits religious tribunals to address moral conduct issues within pastoral contexts, but does not establish formal mechanisms for handling sexual abuse allegations or ensuring civil rights for victims.
Morán reiterated that any change must be assessed in terms of its impact on the institution's integrity and its relationship with national laws. It has not been indicated whether this proposal aligns with recent ecclesiastical reform initiatives nor what level of support it enjoys internally within the Vatican.
Criticism of internal structures
There is no available evidence that this position has previously been discussed by other bodies within the religious system, such as the Pontifical Council for Human Rights or the Canonical Ethics Committee. The statement was published exclusively in El País and has not been endorsed by an official superior authority of the Catholic Church.
K13 News emphasizes that this assertion comes solely from a journalistic report without additional verification or cross-checking. It cannot be automatically assumed that the content expressed is true or represents an official institutional stance.