The idea of a digital registry to monitor priests is being studied in Switzerland

The president of the Swiss Bishops' Conference, Charles Morerod, is not opposed to a national registry for the clergy. "Each parish will thus be able to check by smartphone whether there are any complaints or restrictions," believes the Bishop of Lausanne, Geneva, and Fribourg.

The idea of a digital registry to monitor priests is being studied in his diocese of Lausanne, Geneva, and Fribourg, Monsignor Morerod said in an interview published Thursday in the Neue Zürcher Zeitung.

The bishop cited France as a model, noting that a digital system already exists there. Priests would receive an identity card with a QR code.

"The aim is to prevent people already known for their problems from slipping through the net," he emphasized Thursday on the RTS program Forum. The idea is to allow parishes to quickly check whether a priest is authorized to practice or not. A green or red light appears when scanning the QR code, allowing immediate access to the validity information.

According to Monsignor Morerod, not everyone within the episcopal conference is yet convinced by this system, as the French system is less well-known in German-speaking Switzerland. "But the process has begun," he added.

Contrary to what the German-speaking press has suggested, Charles Morerod insists on Forum that he has never proposed the creation of a national registry. "I never said I was thinking of introducing a national registry. This information has been attributed to me without foundation. I'm not against it, but I never said it."

Scanning via mobile phone

The initiative therefore remains regional for the time being: "I'm starting with my own diocese," says the bishop. A credit-card-sized professional card, with a photo and QR code, will be issued to priests. Parishes will have readers or will be able to scan the card via mobile phone.

The problem with the current situation is that someone can walk around with a card valid for five years even though a problem has arisen in the meantime.

This new card will replace existing ones, which do not include data that can be updated in real time. "The problem with the current situation is that someone can walk around with a card valid for five years even though a problem has arisen in the meantime," laments Charles Morerod.

Updating the information on these cards will be the responsibility of the bishoprics. In Fribourg, this work is already underway.

The bishop is aware, however, that this card will not solve everything. "It's one measure among many. We also have prevention courses with specialized institutions, professional assessments for candidates, and charters to sign. We also communicate regularly with the justice system and the judiciary."

"A learning process"

The Roman Catholic Church's handling of abuse cases has been a topic of constant discussion since the publication of a study by the University of Zurich in 2023. It showed that Catholic priests and religious had committed more than 1,000 sexual abuse cases in Switzerland since 1950, with the number of unrecorded cases likely being higher. Immediately after the report was presented, the Church announced measures against sexual abuse and its cover-up.

On the issue of protecting perpetrators and victims, the president of the Bishops' Conference told the Zurich daily: "I myself have undergone an apprenticeship." This process began when the Fribourg native began talking with and listening to victims of abuse, said Charles Morerod, adding that "many in the Church, however, have not yet had this experience. As a result, they are also lacking in the learning process."

Faced with the idea of introducing an ID card with QR codes for priests, Laetitia Kulak, an expert in digitalization in the field of human resources, is skeptical.

A guest on the 7:30 p.m. news on RTS, she questions the security of such a system: "I am quite surprised and perplexed that we are considering using such technology in a context where the data is so sensitive, even though this technology is not 100% secure," she believes.

"Dangerous and discriminatory"

Beyond the technical aspect, she points out the dangers associated with the very use of this data: "What are we going to do with this data? Where will it go? I think it's primarily a security issue, but it also raises ethical questions (...) I find it dangerous and discriminatory."

The expert also warns against QR codes, which can now be hacked by anyone.

Finally, Laetitia Kulak calls for better control of information flows. "We just need to have a state of surveillance over this data, to know how it's processed, how it's collected. (…) I think it's important to be able to store this data in a truly secure environment."

CECAR President Sylvie Perrinjaquet welcomes progress, but remains skeptical

A guest on La Matinale, Sylvie Perrinjaquet, president of CECAR, the commission that collects testimonies from victims of sexual abuse within the Church, remains skeptical about this national registry for the clergy. She welcomes the initiative, even if, in her opinion, it comes a little late for victims.

"In principle, why not. I think what's interesting is to see that there is at least one bishop who is wondering what follow-up measures and procedures could be put in place to prevent abuse in the future," she said.

However, she has questions about how this registry will actually be implemented. "There are not only bishoprics, but also congregations that are autonomous from the bishoprics. And their point of reference is Rome. And if Rome doesn't tell them 'you must register,' I'm not sure they will," she emphasizes, adding that such a registry will come at a cost.

Too late

In her opinion, the idea of this registry comes too late. "I feel like there's a generation that has to pass. And when that generation is no longer here, we can imagine that the new generation will be more careful not to have predators in its midst, as is still the case today."

The real problem, continues Sylvie Perrinjaquet, is not only creating a registry, but making clear decisions about abusive priests. "Normally, we should remove them from the Church. They don't have to function, they are dangerous to society and to their parishioners. We must be able to remove them from the system." However, the Church cannot decide on this point. The register, according to her, will not be enough if it is not accompanied by concrete consequences for the people it lists.

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