Predator priest in Central Africa: 'Salesians deceived us'

By Lucie Sarr
La Croix International
December 17, 2019

https://bit.ly/2QbRZIu

Bishop Nestor-Désiré Nongo-Aziagbia, president of the Central African Bishops' Conference

Bishop Nestor-Désiré Nongo-Aziagbia heads the Diocese of Bossangoa, in the north-west Central African Republic, and serves as president of the country's Catholic bishops' conference.

A few weeks after the US-based CNN exposed sexual abuse of minors by Father Luke Delft, a Salesian religious and former national executive secretary of Caritas Central Africa, Bishop Nongo-Aziagbia explains how the Central African Bishops' Conference dealt with the Belgian predator priest.

According to CNN, Father Delft was convicted for child abuse and possession of child pornography in 2012 and was given an 18 months' suspended jail sentence and a 10-year ban from contact with children by a correctional court in the Flemish region of Belgium.

However, he was given a high-profile posting in the strife-torn Central African Republic in 2013.

La Croix Africa: Can you tell us how Father Luke Delft arrived in Central African Republic?

Bishop Nestor-Désiré Nongo-Aziagbia: Father Luke Delft arrived in Central Africa in 2013 as part of an intra-congregation pact between the Belgian Salesian provincial superior and Bishop Albert Vanbuel of Kaga-Bandoroç.

Bishop Vanbuel, also a Salesian, was looking for a person to help him and brought Father Delft from the same Salesian province as him. Bishop Vanbuel, under canon law, did not need the nod of the Episcopal Conference to recruit Father Delft.

The interaction between the bishops' conference and Father Delft officially began in 2015, when Bishop Vanbuel retired. The same year the Central African Bishops' Conference met in Mbaiki to find a successor to the then national executive secretary of Caritas Central Africa.

We had a choice between two priests. The first priest was reported to be indispensable in his diocese (Bambari) where he was vicar-general. So, the choice fell on the second priest who was Father Delft.

The Episcopal Conference sent a letter to the Salesian provincial in Belgium to make Father Delft available. The latter responded favourably through the Salesian province of Central Africa.

No warning was given at the time by the Salesians to the Episcopal Conference.

When you were first informed about the charges against Father Delft?

The first alert was given in 2017 by a psychotherapist who was surprised at Father Luke's presence with children despite the Belgian court order ruling. He tipped off Caritas Internationalis.

Caritas Internationalis passed on the information to the Central African Bishops' Conference. We immediately turned to the Salesian provincial.

The latter implicitly acknowledged that there were allegations against this priest but added that the case had been handled in Belgium and that it had been settled legally. We obviously believed his word.

In June this year, the CNN team visited Caritas Central Africa headquarters. A panicked Delft called Cardinal Nzapalainga who asked him if he had committed sexual abuse in Belgium or in Central African Republic. He replied that he did not.

Later, in one week, the cardinal received three contradictory emails from the Belgian Salesian provincial.

The first mail stated that he was terminating Father Delft's contract with Caritas Central Africa as he had to return home because of sexual abuse cases against him, including one allegedly committed in Central Africa.

The next day, another message arrived, indicating to keep Father Delft in Central Africa. The third mail came a day or two later. The provincial wanted Father Delft to return home.

Later, Cardinal Nzapalainga met Father Delft in the presence of Bishop Richard Appora of Bambari, vice-president of the bishops' conference. Father Delft then resigned and immediately joined his religious community.

What steps did you take to clarify the accusations against Father Delft?

The Central African Bishops' Conference has been in touch with the Salesians. The Belgian Salesian province and Dignity Foundation, set up by the Belgian Bishops' Conference to deal with sexual abuse of minors, issued a press statement in Belgium and took certain measures.

The priest was barred from active ministry and was prevented from being in contact with children. Canonical procedures were also initiated against him in Belgium.

In Central African Republic, a three-member canonical investigation committee was set up to probe the accusations against the priest. The panel was given 90 days to complete the probe.

At the same time, we learned that a Caritas Central African Republic staff member had organized a video conference between Father Delft and a group of vulnerable children. The current national executive secretary of Caritas Central Africa, Father Alain Bagbanzi, was informed about this the next day.

We were informed that the priest had been caring for vulnerable children for some time. He paid for their studies, organized outings for them and gave them gifts. We immediately alerted our committee. At that time, we did not have any information on the identity of the victims, let alone on the conditions and circumstances of these abuses.

Later, local journalists came to the archdiocese to speak about the victims. They told us about a minor who was 13 years old at the time of the incident and about Caritas staff members.

Have you received confirmation of this from the Salesians?

Yes. On the occasion of the celebration of 25 years of the Salesian presence in Central Africa, the permanent council of the bishops' conference received information on the restrictions imposed by the Belgian justice system.

We launched an administrative investigation. The report will be available soon. At the civilian level, a complaint has been lodged with the prosecutor's office, and the probe is on.

We feel betrayed by the Belgian Salesian province, which deceived us.

What are the economic consequences for Caritas?

This situation puts Caritas Central Africa in difficulty as some partners have suspended their support. In the dioceses of Bangui, Mbaïki, Bambari and Bangassou, aid was stopped.

We feel a sense of injustice because we have been deceived and, on top of that, we are being suspended from humanitarian aid. As a result, we can no longer pay the staff. Partners and employees only know the direct employer, Caritas Central Africa. Meanwhile, the people who were rescued, have plunged into poverty.