Many things must happen to address the abuse crisis (beyond the Dallas Charter's rules): the Vatican responding to the main charge of the Vigano letter, local review boards being led by laypeople, but, most of all, the opening of all files, in dioceses and religious orders. 1/
To use the model of confession, one doesn't confess only those sins that one is forced to. After all, if dioceses and orders don't open their files, every DA and AG in every city and state will simple force them to, and the process will stretch out over years, if not decades. 2/
It will be exceedingly painful and probably complicated (e.g., determining which decades-old complaints are credible--since innocent priests shouldn't be implicated) and should be overseen by laypeople. But a full and voluntary confession is necessary for true reconciliation. 3/3
