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	Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore Encourages Sex Abuse Victims of Colombian Priest to Come out AHN November 3, 2008 http://www.gantdaily.com/news/35/ARTICLE/35412/2008-11-03.html Baltimore, MD (AHN) - The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore is seeking for sexual molestation victims of a Colombian priest based in Maryland. Fr. Fernando Cristancho, who has yet to be defrocked by his diocese in his homeland Colombia, reportedly fathered triplets, 2 boys and a girl, in 2000 through in vitro fertilization with a female friend. Dalia Fernandez, a platonic friend of the priest, conceived the triplets using Cristancho's sperm and egg cells donated by an anonymous woman. A child abuse complaint stemmed when Fernandez alleged Cristancho molested two of his own children. According to the Maryland Daily Record, a special appeals court gave the custody of the triplets to Fernandez on the grounds that she is the de facto parent. An investigation by the Department of Social Services revealed that sex abuse of the boys was indicated as its strongest type, the Daily Record added. The archdiocese learned of Cristancho's child abuse after publicized reports of the court's recent decision. The church will announce through its publication, the Catholic Review, if there are other victims during Cristancho's ministry at St. Ignatius in Forest Hill from 1999 to 2002. Church authorities will immediately report it to civil authorities and initiate a full investigation. Cristancho denied the abuse accusing Fernandez of fabricating the allegations to allow her gain custody of the children. He added that he is "vulnerable" to abuse allegations because he is a priest, the Daily Record reported.
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