VATICAN CITY
Vatican Insider
Portuguese magazine “Visão” has reported that complaints have allegedly been made against Bishop Azevedo, a delegate of the Pontifical Council for Culture, about sexual abuse committed in the 80’s
Andrea Tornielli
Vatican City
The Catholic hierarchy is in the thick of a new sex abuse storm and this time the Roman Curia’s in the eye of it. Portuguese bishop Carlo Azevedo, 59, previously Auxiliary Bishop of Lisbon who coordinated the Pope’s visit in 2010, he is now a delegate of the Pontifical Council of Culture and is being accused of allegedly molesting a seminarist. Portuguese magazine Visão reported the news, dedicating its front page tot he report filed against the bishop in 2010 at the Apostolic Nunciature in Lisbon.
According to the print edition of the magazine on news stands today, the abuse was committed during the 80’s. A priest who is currently in charge of coordinating hospital chaplains reported Azevedo three years ago. Visão magazine writes that the case was looked into and the Catholic hierarchy collaborated in this, but the outcome is as yet unknown.
In November 2011, the bishop who is believed could be the next successor to Lisbon’s patriarch, Cardinal José Policarpo, left Portugal and was nominated delegate of the Pontifical Council for Culture, a role which was not part of the Curia dicastery system but was a role created ad hoc, especially for the occasion, by Vatican leaders. It was believed the bishop may have been transferred to Rome because he did not see eye to eye with Patriarch Policarpo.
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