Some have called it groundbreaking, while others say it's not enough. 

Pope Francis issued a new Motu proprio (church law) on Thursday, May 9, 2019, saying that all Catholic priests and nuns around the world are to report all cases of clergy sexual abuse and cover-ups to church authorities. It's the latest in an effort by Pope Francis to undo the damage of years of abuse, cover-ups, and the damage caused to the image of the Catholic church.

The new law has provided "whistleblower protections for anyone making a report and requires all dioceses to have a system in place to receive the claims confidentially," according to the Associated Press.

The law states that priests and nuns must tell church authorities when they learn of wrongdoing or have "well-founded motives to believe" abuse or a cover-up has taken place. This includes, but is not limited to, child abuse. According to Vatican News, it also includes sexual abuse and violence resulting from an abuse of authority as well. This includes "cases of violence against religious by clerics, as well as abuse committed against adult seminarians or novices." Previously reporting cases to church authorities was "up to the conscience of the individual."

The new church law has faced criticism, however, because it does not require people to report to civil authorities. 

The Catholic church has long maintained that the varying legal systems throughout the world makes such a requirement impossible. They say that is especially so in places where Catholics are persecuted. 

Vatican News says that "The obligation to report to the local Ordinary or Religious Superior does not interfere with, or change, any other reporting obligation that may exist in respective countries’ legislation. In fact, the norms "apply without prejudice to the rights and obligations established in each place by state laws, particularly those concerning any reporting obligations to the competent civil authorities."

Under the new edict, every Diocese in the world must have a system for reporting set up by June 2020.

"The legislation does not specify what these 'systems' consist of, because it leaves operational choices to the Diocese; and these may differ according to various cultures and local conditions. The idea is that anyone who has suffered abuse can have recourse to the local Church, while being assured they will be well received, protected from retaliation, and that their reports will be treated with the utmost seriousness."