Transparency Commission finds inadequate record-keeping in Panama Archdiocese

An international research group found that the Archdiocese of Panama lacks sufficient procedures to prevent and respond to abuse incidents. The Transparency Commission released its assessment on Tuesday, following a request last year from Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta to evaluate how the local Church managed abuse complaints over the last 25 years.

The commission's findings include a need for better record-keeping, improved methods for listening to victims, clearer codes of conduct, and measures for reparation. During its review, the group examined 24 of the 37 sexual abuse complaints received by the archdiocese between 2001 and 2025. The remaining complaints fell outside the commission's specific timeframe, jurisdiction, or did not involve minors or vulnerable persons.

To reach these conclusions, the commission reviewed archdiocesan archives, interviewed individuals, collected testimonies, and studied local media reports. The Transparency Commission is an independent group of experts funded by Notre Dame Law School and the Universidad Villanueva Foundation in Spain. This assessment served as a pilot project for the group, which intends to conduct similar evaluations in other dioceses.