BishopAccountability.org
	Paedophile Priests Removed from Brazil Times March 16, 2010 http://www.timeslive.co.za/world/article359505.ece BRAZIL -- The Vatican confirmed that three Brazilian clergymen had been removed in a paedophilia scandal, but said none were bishops as reported by a Portuguese-language website. The UOL website was referring to priests, two of whom have the honorific title of monsignor, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told AFP. "One was removed from his parish and faces charges in the civil justice system," Lombardi said, adding that the other two had been suspended from their duties pending an investigation. The scandal - the first to erupt in Latin America since a wave of predator priest scandals hit several European Catholic churches - reportedly erupted last Thursday when local television in northeastern Araparica aired a video showing an 82-year-old prelate having sex with a 19-year-old youth. A lawyer for Monsignor Luiz Marquez said the acts shown in the video were consensual and rejected the charge of paedophilia. He said the video - which UOL said was on sale in the streets of Araparica - was made for profit. In an interview the teenager said he had suffered abuse by clergy since age 12. The UOL website said the bishop of the diocese of Araparica had announced that two bishops and a priest were expelled after being accused of paedophilia by parishioners and victims' relatives. The TV broadcast encouraged other abuse victims to step forward, telling their stories to the press and police, which led to the judicial investigation. The other two priests reportedly also rejected the accusations. The diocese issued a statement deploring the images, saying its "heart was broken by sadness and shame even if the charges have not yet been proven." The Roman Catholic Church has opened an internal investigation and was ready to assist in the judicial process "in any way necessary," it said.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.