As the two people concerned reported on social networks at the weekend, they received a corresponding threat of punishment, which Pope Francis signed in the Vatican on 25 September.
The letter, which can be viewed online, states that they could face a judgement of excommunication by the Church. They can only escape this punishment if they withdraw their complaint before a secular court and fulfil further conditions.
They are Giuliana Caccia and Sebastian Blanco, both of whom are said to be close to the "Sodalitium Christianae Vitae" (SCV) group.
Has the Vatican investigator been spilling the beans?
At the heart of the case is the question of whether the Vatican investigator, the Spanish priest Jordi Bertomeu from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, passed on confidential information about the interrogation to the media.
The two lay people had filed a lawsuit in a secular court because of this alleged breach of trust.
After the questioning and investigations were completed, the Pope expelled ten former members from the SCV. They were accused of abuse of power and other misconduct.
In August, the Vatican had already ordered the expulsion of SCV founder Luis Fernando Figari from the organisation following allegations of sexual abuse.
Accusation against Cardinal Prevost
The case is further complicated by the fact that Blanco is accusing the high-ranking Curia Cardinal Robert Prevost of having covered up a case of sexual abuse in the clergy.
Prevost was Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru from 2015 to 2023.
As a curial cardinal - he has headed the dicastery for bishops since 2023 - Prevost is involved in the Vatican's action against the SCV.
This led to the premature and apparently involuntary resignation of the Archbishop of Piura, Jose Antonio Eguren (68), on 3 April.
As Metropolitan Archbishop in Peru, he was once superior to the neighbouring Bishop Prevost.