Activists Demand Justice for Victims of Pedophile Priests

The Telesur
January 29, 2016

http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Activists-Demand-Justice-for-Victims-of-Pedophile-Priests-20160129-0025.html

Former Catholic priest and Mexican activist Alberto Athie speaks on Jan. 26, 2016, during a press conference in the city of Oaxaca, Mexico. | Photo: EFE

Activist accuse Catholic authorities for failing to conduct an investigation and said abuse against kids occurred in seven indigenous communities.

Mexican activists, including priests, have launched a campaign accusing Mexico's Catholic Archdiocese of protecting Rev. Gerardo Silvestre Hernandez, who is believed to have sexually abused about 100 children.

Hernandez is in prison since 2013 on charges of corruption of minors, however the activists have directly accused the Archbishop of Oaxaca Jose Luis Chavez of protecting the pedophile priest by blocking an investigation into the case.

The activists said the abuses by Hernandez were committed in seven indigenous communities.

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Relatives of the victims have drafted a letter that they intend to hand to Pope Francis, who will visit Mexico next month. In the letter, they ask the pontiff for justice and action to ensure that "this doesn't happen again."

Catholicism is the dominant religion in Mexico representing about 83 percent of the population. The Catholic Church in Mexico has faced several scandals of sexual abuse.

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One of the best known cases involved the founder of the Legion of Christ order Marcial Maciel, whose crimes were hidden during the papacy of John Paul II due to the powerful influence of Maciel’s order around the world.

The activists have also said that all those involved in the case should be processed in order to bring justice to the victims affected.

This content was originally published by teleSUR at the following address: