The Vatican 40 years ago instructed Catholic bishops around the world to cover up cases of sexual abuse or face excommunication from the Church. This according to the Observer of London which obtained 69 pages of internal church documents from Pope John the 23rd (XXIII).

An attorney representing victims abused by priests in the United States, said the letter “proves there was an international conspiracy by the Church to hush up sexual abuse issues. It is a devious attempt to conceal criminal conduct and is a blueprint for deception and concealment.”

It is unknown how many people have been raped or sexually abused by Catholic priests. In Boston alone, the Massachusetts attorney general estimates at least 800 children have been abused over the past 60 years.