Anger over Return of 'Sex Abuse' Priest

The Local
July 12, 2013

http://www.thelocal.it/20130712/parents-outraged-by-return-of-sex-abuse-priest

Father Luigi Mantia was a priest at a church in Casirate d'Adda

Protests are being planned by parents in the northern Italian town of Casirate d'Adda, in Bergamo, after it emerged that a priest who plea-bargained a suspended sentence for having sex with two boys would take part in a week-long parish holiday.

Father Luigi Mantia plea bargained the two-year sentence in 2009 after being convicted of having sex with the boys, aged 8 and 12 at the time, Bergamo news reported. Though he has always maintained his innocence, he is reported to have hurried the bargain just before the case closed.

At the time, he was pastor of a church in the town but is now “on loan” to another church within Bergamo.

He is expected to accompany his former parishioners on the mountain holiday, a move that has provoked outrage among parents in Casirate.

Two meetings were reported to be held last night ahead of protests.

The Diocese of Cremona has reassured parents that the priest “will not go into the mountains with children,” Bergamo news reported.

Contact: angela.giuffrida@thelocal.com