PERU
GlobalPost

AFP

A Peruvian bishop has been defrocked over allegations of pedophilia, a former colleague said Friday.

The alleged offender is Gabino Miranda, until now the auxiliary bishop of Ayacucho in southeastern Peru.

This is the first time a bishop has been accused of abusing children in Peru, said Bishop Luis Bambaren.

“He has not only been fired but also reduced to a layman. He is no longer even a priest,” Bambaren told reporters.

The name of Miranda, who belongs to the ultra-conservative Catholic group Opus Dei, has been removed from the website of the archbishop’s office in Ayacucho.