Sion Bishop Pledges To Preserve Abuse Archives

The Diocese of Sion has decided to expand access to its archives and relax consultation conditions. The expansion aims to provide more transparency on its operations. The archives are currently subsidized by the city of Sion and have assisted more than 4,600 families. The diocese will work in partnership with the Valais Association for Genealogical Studies to improve document accessibility. The partnership is expected to have concrete effects on waiting times for accessing documents that do not contain personal data. New regulations will establish a standard 30-year access period for documents that do not contain personal data. Some existing archives in the Diocese of Sion currently have protection periods of 50 to 70 years. Documents containing sensitive personal data will require an additional 10-year waiting period following the death of the individual concerned. Access may be further delayed if the person is listed as missing. Monsignor Levé, the current Bishop of Sion, has committed to not destroying archives related to abuse cases. A 2023 audit of the diocese accessed these sensitive documents and did not reveal any destruction of records. The responsibility for maintaining these archives extends to local parishes as well as the central diocese.