ABUSE TRACKER

DUBLIN (IRELAND)
The Independent

January 11, 2018

Pope Francis is to meet with two victims of Chile’s military dictatorship during his upcoming trip and is not ruling out a private encounter with victims of clerical sex abuse.

Spokesman Greg Burke made the comments while announcing details of the January 15-21 trip to Chile and Peru, Francis’ 22nd foreign trip and the sixth to his home continent of South America.

The encounter with two victims of the 1973-1990 Pinochet regime will take place on January 18 in the northern city of Iquique.

Mr Burke was asked if Francis would meet with abuse victims and while he said no meeting was planned, “that doesn’t mean it’s impossible”. He added that such meetings are best when conducted in private.

He said it was “clearly an important theme” in Chile, where the scandal has seriously hurt the Catholic Church’s credibility.

Just this week, online database www.BishopAccountability.org said it had found 78 priests or members of religious orders credibly accused or convicted of abuse against minors.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
Associated Press via Washington Post

January 16, 2018

The latest on the pope’s visit to Chile (all times local):

9:10 p.m.

Pope Francis has met with a small group of Chilean victims of sex abuse by priests.

That is according to Vatican spokesman Greg Burke.

Burke told reporters that the meeting happened Tuesday at lunch. It was in the middle of the pope’s first full day in Chile, which included celebrating on outdoor Mass, meeting with the Chilean president and visiting a women’s prison.

Burke did not provide more details about the meeting victims.

Earlier in the day, Francis asked for forgiveness for the abuses committed against minors by priests.

Francis himself has been the center of controversy in Chile. In 2015, the pope appointed a bishop who had been close to the Rev. Fernando Karadima, the country’s most notorious pedophile priest.

___

5:40 p.m.

Pope Francis is telling Chile’s priests that sexual abuse of children not only has caused pain to the victims but also to the priests who have been held collectively responsible for the crimes of a few.

At a meeting Tuesday in Santiago’s cathedral, Francis urged priests and nuns to have the strength to ask for forgiveness for abuse and the “clear-sightedness to call reality by its name.”

Francis denounced the “weeds of evil” that had sprung up as a result of the scandal, and said he appreciated how the church was responding to it. He said the scandal was particularly painful “because of the harm and sufferings of the victims and their families, who saw the trust they had placed in the church’s ministers betrayed. Pain too for the suffering of ecclesial communities, and pain for you brothers and sisters, who after working so hard, have seen the harm that has led to suspicion and questioning; in some or many of you this has been a source of doubt, fear or lack of confidence.”

He said at times, some had even been insulted in the metro and that by wearing clerical attire they had “paid a heavy price.” But he urged them to press on.

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KANSAS CITY (MO)
National Catholic Reporter

January 16, 2018

By Joshua J. McElwee

Pope Francis has asked Chile’s Catholic clergy to have the fortitude to ask forgiveness from those who were abused by priests, saying abuse survivors had their trust in the church betrayed and that clerics should seek to “call reality by its name.”

But the pontiff also acknowledged the discomfort experienced by priests not caught up in the scandal, telling hundreds of clergy gathered for a meeting Jan. 16 at Santiago’s Cathedral of the Assumption he knows they operate now in an atmosphere of suspicion.

“I know the pain resulting from cases of abuse and I am attentive to what you are doing to respond to this great and painful evil,” Francis told the clergy, before listing several of types of pain caused by the abuse.

* * *

One of the organizers of the leading Catholic clergy sexual abuse tracking website called Francis’ comments to the clergy Jan. 16 an indication that he does not understand the scope of the clergy sexual abuse crisis.

“These remarks reveal the pope’s own lack of clear-sightedness,” said Anne Barrett Doyle, who helps run BishopAccountability.org. “The ‘reality’ that he should call by its name is the reality of collusion, apathy and cowardice among priests.”

“The pope could have delivered a very different message,” said Barrett Doyle. “He could have urged priests to face their own complicity in the secrecy that shrouds clergy sex abuse.”

“This is another missed opportunity, another indication that Pope Francis still doesn’t get it,” she said.

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NEW YORK (NY)
New York Times

January 16, 2018

By Ernesto Londoño

Pope Francis said on Tuesday that he was “pained and ashamed” over the “irreparable damage” priests had inflicted on minors, as he offered Chileans an apology during his first visit to their country as pontiff.

“It is just to ask for forgiveness and to support victims with as much strength as possible, even as we take steps to ensure that this never happens again,” the pope said during an address in Santiago, Chile’s capital, attended by President Michelle Bachelet.

The remarks were the pope’s latest effort to contain the fallout from a series of sexual abuse scandals that have contributed to the decline of Catholicism in several regions, including Latin America.

But victims of sexual abuse by members of the clergy in Chile said the pope’s words rang hollow.

“It’s not the time for apologies anymore, it’s the time for action,” said Juan Carlos Cruz, a Chilean who was abused by a priest when he was a 17-year-old seminarian. “Here in Chile there are bishops who have witnessed abuse and who have covered that up and who have abused as well and they are still in their position. The pope should remove them.”

* * *

Anne Barrett Doyle, the co-director of BishopAccountability.org, a group that tracks abuse cases in the church, said the pope’s remarks in Santiago were “strong but familiar.” Francis last year acknowledged that the church had been slow to respond to allegations of abuse and said that “pedophilia is a sickness.”

Ms. Doyle, whose group last week published a database of nearly 80 Chilean clergymen who have been accused of abuse, said she hoped the pope would commit to undertaking a sweeping investigation of past cases.

“If the pope leaves Chile without committing to investigate complicit church leaders, the public’s already deep distrust of the church will intensify,” Ms. Doyle said.

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BUENOS AIRES (ARGENTINA)
Clarin

January 16, 2018

>>Pope Francis in Chile: harsh criticism of Bergoglio from former president Eduadro Frei’s wife : “I do not believe anything”

La ex primera dama reaccionó así al pedido de perdón del pontífice por los abusos a menores. Fue al advertir que en la misa de hoy participó un obispo acusado de encubrir a un pedófilo.

Una de las voces más duras este martes contra el Papa Francisco y sus palabras de recogimiento por las denuncias de pedofilia fue la de la ex Primera Dama chilena, Marta Larraechea. La mujer es la esposa del ex mandatario Eduardo Frei uno de los líderes históricos del partido Demócrata Cristiano chileno.

En un implacable mensaje en la red Twitter se sumó a los cuestionamientos al sostener sobre el Papa “no le creo nada, dice una cosa y hace otra”.

Criticó enseguida al polémico clérigo Juan Barros, señalado por ocultar estos crímenes pero que de todos modos fue ascendido por Jorge Bergoglio al cargo de obispo de Osorno. El obispo estuvo este martes en la misa que ofreció el Papa. “Barros participa de la ceremonia en Parque O’Higggins, qué vergüenza, de qué pide ‘disculpas’ el Papa “, se preguntó la ex Primera Dama.

En la misma línea se pronunció el periodista Juan Carlos Cruz, víctima de los abusos sexuales cometidos por el cura Fernando Karadima, uno de cuyos aliados principales fue justamente el obispo Barros.

[Google Translation: The former first lady reacted thus to the pontiff’s request for pardon for the abuse of minors. It was when he noticed that a bishop accused of covering up a pedophile had participated in the mass today.

Photo caption: The Bishop of Osorno, Juan Barros, during the Mass of Pope Francis, this Tuesday in Santiago.

One of the toughest voices against Pope Francis on Tuesday and his words of recollection for the denunciations of pedophilia was that of the former Chilean First Lady, Marta Larraechea. The wife is the wife of former president Eduardo Frei, one of the historic leaders of the Chilean Christian Democrat Party.

In an implacable message on the Twitter network, he joined the questioning of the Pope, “I do not believe anything, he says one thing and he does another.”

He immediately criticized the controversial cleric Juan Barros, who was accused of hiding these crimes but was promoted by Jorge Bergoglio to the post of Bishop of Osorno anyway . The bishop was on Tuesday at the Mass offered by the Pope. “Barros participates in the ceremony at Parque O’Higggins, what a shame, what does the Pope” apologize for “, the former First Lady asked herself.

In the same line, the journalist Juan Carlos Cruz, victim of the sexual abuses committed by the priest Fernando Karadima, one of whose main allies was just Bishop Barros, was pronounced.

“The Pope apologizes for abuses in (his speech in) La Moneda. Another good headline that takes applause and stays there. Another cheap holder. Enough of forgiveness, more actions. The hiding bishops there follow. Empty words. Pain and shame is what the victims feel, “he said in his Twitter account.

Karadima is a priest accused of numerous crimes linked to pedophilia and illicit enrichment. He was not, however, prosecuted for justice because his crimes were prescribed. In addition, the Church as the only punishment ordered him to seclude and pray and prevented him from continuing to officiate mass. But, later, images appeared where the priest showed himself presiding over these ceremonies.

In an interview with the US network CNN of Chile, the journalist said, later, that in the Vatican “they are cowards, they say this for the headlines, but when we ask them to come together and tell them our story, nothing happens. He keeps the version of people like Ricardo Ezzati (metropolitan archbishop of Santiago) or Francisco Javier Errazuriz (cardinal, archbishop emeritus of Santiago) “.

“The only thing they have done is slapping us. When we accused of being abused by the monster, he took our hands,” Cruz concluded, referring to Karadima and the curia.

Barros reacted by assuring that “many lies have been said” and that he has never witnessed abuse. Cruz returned there to the charge, in statements to Tele13 Radio: “Tell me in my face, he was present, and sorry if I’m raw, when Karadima touched my genitals, when he made me kiss him and did that with others. And Juan was standing there, when he also hugged and kissed with Karadima and we saw several, “he shot.]

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
Associated Press via Washington Post

January 15, 2018

By Nicole Winfield and Eva Vergara

Pope Francis flew in to Chile’s capital Monday night for a visit expected to be met with protests over sexual abuse by priests and confronted by many Chileans deeply skeptical about the Roman Catholic Church.

It’s the pope’s first visit to the Andean nation of 17 million people since taking the reins of the church in 2013. It comes at a time when many Chileans are furious over Francis’ 2015 decision to appoint a bishop close to the Rev. Fernando Karadima, who the Vatican found guilty in 2011 of abusing dozens of minors over decades.

The Rev. Juan Barros, bishop of the southern city of Osorno, has always denied he knew what Karadima was doing when he was the priest’s protege, a position that many Chileans have a hard time believing.

“It’s not just time for the pope to ask for forgiveness for the abuses but also to take action,” said Juan Carlos Cruz, a victim of Karadima.

Cruz added that if it wasn’t possible to jail bad bishops, “at the very least they can be removed from their positions.”

After deplaning, Francis was greeted by President Michelle Bachelet and a band played while the two walked on a red carpet as night began to fall. The pope traveled in a black sedan to the center of the city, flanked by several cars. He then transferred to a popemobile, waving to small crowds of well-wishers who lined up along avenues.

Crowds were notably thin, particularly compared to papal visits in other Latin American countries.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
La Stampa / Vatican Insider

January 16, 2018

By Andrea Tornielli

Francis meets the Episcopal Conference of Chile and denounces the risk of clericalism in the Chilean Church, “Let us be on guard, please, against this temptation, especially in seminaries”. As pastors “we are part of God’s people, not an élite”

In the last meeting of his first intense Chilean day (five appointments and five speeches), Pope Francis met briefly the bishops of the country in the cathedral of Santiago de Chile. A short meeting that becomes an opportunity to recall the hierarchies not to fall into clericalism and to consider themselves part of God’s people, without treating the laity as “peons” who must “parrot back whatever” bishops and priests say.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Pope greeted the world’s oldest bishop, 102-year-old Bernardino Piñera Carvallo, who participated as a conciliar father in the four sessions of Vatican II.

Francis then stressed the importance of the fatherhood of the bishop with his presbyterate, “A fatherhood that neither paternalism nor authoritarianism, but a gift to be sought. Stay close to your priests, like Saint Joseph”.

He therefore called for the recovery of the conscience of “being a people”, “One of the problems facing our societies today is the sense of being orphaned, the feeling of not belonging to anyone. This “postmodern” feeling can seep into us and into our clergy. We begin to think that we belong to no one; we forget that we are part of God’s holy and faithful people and that the Church is not, nor will it ever be, an élite of consecrated men and women, priests and bishops. Without this consciousness of being a people we will not be able to sustain our life, our vocation and our ministry”.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
Cooperativa

>>Lay of Osorno and victims of Karadima manifest in the vicinity of the Cathedral

January 16, 2018

– La agrupación osornina grita consignas contra el obispo Juan Barros.

– En tanto, víctimas del ex párroco protestan con globos negros.

Mientras el papa Francisco encabeza una liturgia para sacerdotes, religiosos, consagrados y seminaristas en la Catedral Metropolitana, algunas manifestaciones pacíficas se registran en sus inmediaciones.

En calle Compañía, un grupo de laicos de Osorno protesta en forma pacífica gritando consignas en contra del obispo de la ciudad, Juan Barros, sindicado como encubridor de los abusos cometidos por el sacerdote Fernando Karadima.

[Google Translation: The Osorno group shouts slogans against Bishop Juan Barros.

Meanwhile, victims of the former pastor protest with black balloons.

While Pope Francis leads a liturgy for priests, religious, consecrated and seminarians in the Metropolitan Cathedral , some peaceful demonstrations are recorded in its vicinity.

On Calle Compañía, a group of lay people from Osorno protest peacefully shouting slogans against the city’s bishop, Juan Barros , accused of covering up abuses committed by priest Fernando Karadima .

While some of the victims of former pastor also were present in the vicinity of the capital temple demonstrating with black balloons, also rejecting the presence of Barros in papal activities.

One of Karadima’s victims, journalist Juan Carlos Cruz , said he expects nothing from Pope Francisco.

“One always expects a greater gesture, but Pope Francis does not wait a long time because it is pure and nothing concrete, the time to ask for forgiveness and to talk about abuses and everything has happened a long time ago, now it is about taking concrete actions” he added.]

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
Cooperativa

>>Pope: I see with concern communities that want to show themselves more than touching reality

January 16, 2018

El pontífice además volvió a referirse a los abusos contra menores.

“Sigo con atención cuanto hacen para superar ese grave y doloroso mal”, aseguró.

Durante la liturgia realizada en la Catedral Metropolitana con sacerdotes, religiosos, consagrados y seminaristas, el papa Francisco reiteró su “dolor” por los casos de abusos sexuales cometidos por integrantes de la iglesia en contra de menores.

En el encuentro religioso, el pontífice deslizó una crítica a ciertas comunidades “que viven arrastradas más por la desesperación de estar en cartelera, por ocupar espacios, por aparecer y mostrarse, que por remangarse y salir a tocar la realidad sufrida de nuestro pueblo fiel”.

Asimismo, consideró que la Iglesia Católica vive un momento de “turbulencias”.

“Conozco el dolor que han significado los casos de abusos ocurridos a menores de edad y sigo con atención cuanto hacen para superar ese grave y doloroso mal. Dolor por el daño y sufrimiento de las víctimas y sus familias, que han visto traicionada la confianza que habían puesto en los ministros de la Iglesia”, dijo en la liturgia.

[Google Translation: – The pontiff also referred again to the abuses against minors.

– “I follow closely what they do to overcome this serious and painful evil,” he said.

During the liturgy held in the Metropolitan Cathedral with priests, religious, consecrated and seminarians, Pope Francis reiterated his “pain” for cases of sexual abuse committed by members of the church against children.

At the religious meeting, the pontiff slipped a critique of certain communities ” that live dragged more by the desperation of being on the billboard, to occupy spaces, to appear and show, to roll up and go out to touch the suffering of our faithful people” .

He also considered that the Catholic Church is experiencing a moment of “turbulence”.

“I know the pain that cases of abuses have caused to minors and I follow with attention how much they do to overcome this serious and painful evil, pain for the damage and suffering of the victims and their families, who have seen the trust that has been betrayed they had put on the ministers of the Church, “he said in the liturgy.

He also expressed his sorrow for the members of the Church who have suffered the consequences of the abuses committed by some religious.

“Pain for the suffering of ecclesial communities, and pain also for you, brothers, that in addition to the wear and tear of surrender have experienced the damage caused by suspicion and questioning, which in some or many may have introduced doubt, fear and distrust, “added Francisco.

“I know that sometimes they have suffered insults in the subway or walking down the street, that going ‘dressed as a priest’ in many places is ‘paying dearly’, which is why I invite you to ask God to give us the lucidity of calling the reality by its name, the courage to ask for forgiveness and the ability to learn to listen to what He is telling us, “stressed the leader of the Catholic Church.

The pontiff arrived at the place on board the popemobile after visiting the San Joaquin Women’s Penitentiary Center , where he held a meeting with more than 400 inmates.

Later he will close the day with a visit, scheduled at 7:15 p.m., to the Shrine of Father Alberto Hurtado, where he will meet with members of the Society of Jesus in Chile, a congregation of which he is a part.]

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
Vatican News

January 16, 2018

By Pope Francis

We bring you the full text [translated into English] of Pope Francis’ address to Chile’s government authorities, civil societies, and the diplomatic corps at the La Moneda Palace, while on his Apostolic Visit to Chile.

It is a joy for me to stand once again on Latin American soil and begin this visit to Chile, this land so close to my heart, which welcomed and schooled me in my younger years. I would like my time with you also to be a moment of gratitude for that welcome. I think of a stanza of your national anthem: “How pure, Chile, are your blue skies / How pure the breezes that sweep across you / And your countryside embroidered with flowers / Is the very image of Eden”. It is a true song of praise for this land, so full of promises and challenges, but especially of hope for the future.

* * *

The ability to listen proves most important in this nation, whose ethnic, cultural and historical diversity must be preserved from all partisan spirit or attempts at domination, and inspire instead our innate ability to replace narrow ideologies with a healthy concern for the common good (which without being communitarian will never be a good). It is necessary to listen: to listen to the unemployed, who cannot support the present, much less the future of their families. To listen to the native peoples, often forgotten, whose rights and culture need to be protected lest that part of this nation’s identity and richness be lost. To listen to the migrants who knock on the doors of this country in search of a better life, but also with the strength and the hope of helping to build a better future for all. To listen to young people and their desire for greater opportunities, especially in education, so that they can take active part in building the Chile they dream of, while at the same time shielding them from the scourge of drugs that rob the best part of their lives. To listen to the elderly with their much-needed wisdom and their particular needs. We cannot abandon them. To listen to children who look out on the world with eyes full of amazement and innocence, and expect from us concrete answers for a dignified future. Here I feel bound to express my pain and shame at the irreparable damage caused to children by some ministers of the Church. I am one with my brother bishops, for it is right to ask for forgiveness and make every effort to support the victims, even as we commit ourselves to ensuring that such things do not happen again.

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LONDON (ENGLAND)
BBC

January 16, 2018

By Eva Ontiveros

When the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said that Pope Francis’s trip to Chile would not be an easy one, it was no exaggeration.

In the pontiff’s 22nd overseas visit, he will meet an unprecedented degree of hostility on his native continent.

When asked to evaluate Pope Francis on a scale of 0 to 10, Chileans gave him a score of 5.3, the lowest ranking for any Pope.

Trust in the Catholic Church as an institution fared even worse, polling at just 36% – the lowest in Latin America.

With such a low rating, it is not surprising that before boarding his plane from Rome, Pope Francis asked his congregation to pray for him.

Chile is a land of contrasts. It is estimated that more than 60% of the population identifies itself as Christian, and 45% belongs to the Catholic Church. But it is also the second most secular country in Latin America.

Some 38% of Chileans regard themselves as agnostic, atheist or non-religious.

So what are the three main challenges the Pope will face on his Chilean trip?

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
Associated Press via Houston Chronicle

January 11, 2018

Por Eva Vergara and Nicole Winfield

[Note: This is a Spanish translation of the original article. See also the letter.]

[Leer en español: Carta del Papa Francisco al Comité Permanente de la Conferencia Episcopal de Chile Sobre el Obispo Juan de la Cruz Barros Madrid de Osorno]

El Vaticano estaba preocupado por los daños colaterales que provocaría el caso del mayor cura pederasta de Chile e intentó poner en marcha un plan: pedir la renuncia y darles un año sabático a tres obispos chilenos acusados de haber encubierto los abusos de ese sacerdote.

The Associated Press obtuvo una carta confidencial del papa Francisco, fechada el 31 de enero de 2015, la cual revela parte de un plan del Vaticano sobre cómo lidiar con los obispos chilenos señalados de proteger los crímenes del cura Fernando Karadima.

La carta también muestra las preocupaciones de los obispos por la designación que Francisco hizo de uno de esos tres obispos, Juan Barros, como responsable de la diócesis de Osorno, en el sur de Chile. El nombramiento provocó una importante división entre fieles y clérigos, e incluso llevó en su momento a cientos de católicos y curas a protestar contra el nuevo obispo de la zona.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
Associated Press via Washington Post

January 16, 2018

By Peter Prengaman and Nicole Winfield

[Note: This AP report is an updated and more detailed version of the report posted in Tracker earlier today.]

Pope Francis begged for forgiveness Tuesday for the “irreparable damage” done to children who were raped and molested by priests, opening his visit to Chile by diving head-first into a scandal that has greatly hurt the Catholic Church’s credibility here and cast a cloud over his visit.

Francis faced controversy on another front as well: Overnight three more Catholic churches were torched, including one burned to the ground in the southern Araucania region where Francis will visit on Wednesday to meet with Chile’s indigenous peoples. While not causing any injuries, the nine church firebombings in the past few days have marked an unprecedented level of protest against history’s first Latin American pope on his home turf.

In Santiago, though, an estimated 400,000 jubilant Chileans turned out in droves for his first public Mass, a massive gathering in the capital’s O’Higgins park where St. John Paul II celebrated Mass three decades ago. Before the service began, Francis took a long, looping ride in his popemobile through the grounds to greet well-wishers, some of whom had camped out overnight to secure a spot.

In his first event of the day, Francis met privately with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and addressed lawmakers, judges and other authorities at La Moneda palace. They interrupted him with applause when he said he felt “bound to express my pain and shame” that some of Chile’s pastors had sexually abused children in their care.

“I am one with my brother bishops, for it is right to ask forgiveness and make every effort to support the victims, even as we commit ourselves to ensuring that such things do not happen again,” he said.

Francis didn’t refer by name to Chile’s most notorious pedophile priest, the Rev. Fernando Karadima, who was sanctioned in 2011 by the Vatican to a lifetime of “penance and prayer” for sexually molesting minors. Nor did he refer to the fact that the emeritus archbishop of Santiago, a top papal adviser, has acknowledged he knew of complaints against Karadima but didn’t remove him from ministry.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
BishopAccountability.org

January 16, 2018

The Pope’s words in Santiago this morning were strong but familiar. This Pope has apologized similarly before, and so have his predecessors.

What’s different is that the Pope opened his visit with this apology, rather than tucking it in later.

Expectations were high, and now they are higher. One hopes the Pope understands that an apology not followed by decisive action will deepen the crisis in Chile. The Chileans are weary of words, and they are savvy. They want Bishop Barros removed, and they see that as only a first step. Chilean bishops openly violate the Pope’s promises of zero tolerance of abuse. They insult the intelligence of Chilean Catholics and they put children at risk. These other church leaders, like Cardinal Ezzati, must also be disciplined.

If the Pope leaves Chile without committing to investigate complicit church leaders, the public’s distrust of the church will intensify. This is a crucial opportunity for Francis: with luck, he will not make the mistake of his brother bishops in underestimating the astuteness and moral outrage of the Chilean people.

Last week, BishopAccountability.org published a database of nearly 80 publicly accused clergy in Chile. While we believe these represent just a fraction of the actual total of accused Chilean clergy, the cases taken as a whole yield a striking portrait of the situation in the Chilean church. Compared to the U.S. and Australia, the Chilean church is distinctive in several respects:

a) Chilean church leaders openly reinstate priests who have been found guilty of abuse under canon or civil law, flouting the standard of zero tolerance established by the Pope. See the cases of Cristian Precht, Julio Dutilh Ros and Francisco Javier Cartes Aburto, C.M.F.

b) The database features a surprising number of superiors of religious orders, such as Pedro Mariano Labarca Araya, O. de M. (the Mercedarians ), Héctor Valdés, M.S.F.S. (the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales), and Eugenio Valenzuela, S.J. (the Jesuits, Pope Francis’ own order).

c) The database largely comprises abuse that occurred after 2000, a result of the church’s refusal to release information, Chile’s victim-hostile criminal statute of limitations, and the weakness of its tort laws. There is almost no public record of abuse that happened in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

Click here to see BishopAccountability.org’s database (in English and Spanish):

• Publicly Accused Priests, Brothers, Sisters, and Deacons in Chile

• Sacerdotes, hermanos, hermanas y diáconos que han sido denunciados públicamente en Chile

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
Associated Press via NBC

January 16, 2018

Pope Francis on Tuesday begged the forgiveness of Chileans for the “irreparable damage” done to children who were sexually abused by priests.

Francis opened his visit to Chile by referring directly to the abuse scandal in a speech to President Michelle Bachelet, lawmakers, justices and other Chilean authorities. The scandal has eroded the credibility of the Catholic Church in the country and cast a shadow over his visit, the first by a pope in three decades.

Francis said he felt “bound to express my pain and shame at the irreparable damage caused to children by some ministers of the church.” He said he joined his fellow bishops in asking forgiveness, supporting victims and ensuring abuse doesn’t happen again.

Chile’s Catholic Church had already begun losing relevance when in 2010 it was found to have covered up for a prominent and powerful priest who sexually abused minors in his posh Santiago parish over decades. The Vatican eventually sanctioned the priest, the Rev. Fernando Karadima, in 2011, but the church has yet to recover from the scandal.

Many Chileans are still furious over Francis’ 2015 decision to appoint a bishop who had been the priest’s protege. Bishop Juan Barros of the southern city of Osorno has always denied he knew what Karadima was doing, but many Chileans have a hard time believing that.

“Sex abuse is Pope Francis’ weakest spot in terms of his credibility,” Massimo Faggioli, a Vatican expert and theology professor at Villanova University in Philadelphia, said ahead of the visit. “It is surprising that the pope and his entourage don’t understand that they need to be more forthcoming on this issue.”

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
Associated Press via WSB-TV

January 15, 2018

The latest on Pope Francis’ visit to Latin America (all times local):

9:20 p.m.

Thousands of people have lined avenues in Chile’s capital to get a glimpse of Pope Francis as he passes by in his popemobile.

But compared to papal visits to other Latin American countries, the crowds are very thin, in many areas a single line of people.

Francis’ first visit to Chile as the head of the Roman Catholic Church comes at a time when many Chileans are skeptical of the church and even angry over one of the pope’s decisions. In 2015, Francis appointed a bishop who had been close to the Rev. Fernando Karadima, who abused dozens of minors over decades.

Some people cheered “Long live the pope!” when he passed by.

Others carried signs criticizing the pope or extolling him to act. “Stop the abuse, Francis!” read one sign. “You can so you must!”

___

7:15 p.m.

Pope Francis has landed in Chile, where protests are expected over his decision to appoint a bishop who was close to the Andean nation’s most notorious pedophile priest.

Francis’ arrival Monday night marks his first visit to Chile since becoming pope in 2013.

After deplaning, he’ll meet with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.

Over the next three days, Francis is scheduled to celebrate Mass in Santiago, the southern city of Temuco and the northern city of Iquique. On Thursday, the pope will go to Peru.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
La Stampa / Vatican Insider

January 16, 2018

By Andrea Tornielli

In his first speech in Chile, Francis asked forgiveness for the violence committed by priests, “make every effort to support the victims, as we commit ourselves to ensuring that such things do not happen again”. And calls on the political authorities to listen to the poor and “native peoples whose rights and culture need to be protected”

In the country of Catholic Latin America, where the Church has lost much of its credibility in the face of public opinion and where protests are rife, Francis chooses to begin by asking forgiveness. In the face of the scandal caused by the case of Father Fernando Karadima, a charismatic and influential priest found guilty by the Holy See of child abuse in 2011, and other cases in Chile, Pope Bergoglio states that he feels “pain and shame at the irreparable damage caused to children by some ministers of the Church”. According to BishopAccountability. org, about 80 Catholic priests have been accused of child abuse since 2000.

* * *

Taking the floor, Francis recalled that Chile “has distinguished itself in recent decades by the growth of a democracy that has enabled steady progress”. He noted that the recent general elections, which led to the appointment of the new President Sebastián Piñera Echenique, were a demonstration “of the solidity and civic maturity” that you have achieved, which takes on particular significance in this year marking the two-hundredth anniversary of the declaration of independence”. The Pope recalls, alluding to the dictatorship without naming it, that the Chilean people “had to face several turbulent times but managed to overcome them, not without pain”. Francis therefore recalled that peace and rights should never be taken for granted and that “Each new generation must take up the struggles and attainments of past generations, while setting its own sights even higher”. “Goodness – he explained – together with love, justice and solidarity, are not achieved once and for all; they have to be realized each day”.

Bergoglio invited not to forget that in Chile, despite his economic and social achievements, “many of our brothers still endure situations of injustice that none of us can ignore”. Here, then, is the challenge, “ to continue working to make this democracy, as your forebears dreamed, beyond its formal aspects, a true place of encounter for all” and where “everyone, without exception, feels called to join in building a house, a family and a nation”. A “generous and welcoming” Chile, with a people and political authorities capable of “listening”.

“This ability to listen – he continued – proves most important in this nation, whose ethnic, cultural and historical diversity must be preserved from all partisan spirit or attempts at domination, and inspire instead our innate ability to replace narrow ideologies with a healthy concern for the common good”. It is necessary, “to listen to the unemployed, who cannot support the present, much less the future of their families”. Listen “to the native peoples, often forgotten, whose rights and culture need to be protected lest that part of this nation’s identity and richness be lost”. We must listen to “the migrants who knock on the doors of this country in search of a better life, but also with the strength and the hope of helping to build a better future for all”. It is necessary “to listen to young people and their desire for greater opportunities, especially in education, so that they can take active part in building the Chile they dream of, while at the same time shielding them from the scourge of drugs that rob the best part of their lives.” And, “To listen to the elderly with their much-needed wisdom and their particular needs. We cannot abandon them”.

Francis then asked to “ To listen to children who look out on the world with eyes full of amazement and innocence, and expect from us concrete answers for a dignified future. “And here – he said – I feel bound to express my pain and shame at the irreparable damage caused to children by some ministers of the Church. I am one with my brother bishops, for it is right to ask for forgiveness and make every effort to support the victims, even as we commit ourselves to ensuring that such things do not happen again”.

Finally, Bergoglio invites us – especially today – to give preferential attention to our common home: to foster a culture that can care for the earth, and thus is not content with merely responding to grave ecological and environmental problems as they arise. This calls for boldly adopting “a distinctive way of looking at things, a way of thinking, policies, an educational programme, a lifestyle and a spirituality which together generate resistance to the assault of the technocratic paradigm” that allows powerful economic interests to prevail over natural ecosystems and, as a result, the common good of our peoples.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
Reuters

January 16, 2018

By Philip Pullella and Dave Sherwood

[Note: See the Latinobarometro study mentioned in this article.]

Pope Francis expressed his “pain and shame” on Tuesday over a sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church in Chile, seeking forgiveness for a crisis that has scarred its credibility and left many faithful sceptical of reform.

“Here I feel bound to express my pain and shame at the irreparable damage caused to children by some ministers of the Church,” he said in the presidential palace, drawing sustained applause from his listeners.

Francis was making his first official address of the trip in the presence of President Michelle Bachelet, other Chilean top officials, cardinals, bishops and foreign diplomats.

“I am one with my brother bishops, for it is right to ask for forgiveness and make every effort to support the victims, even as we commit ourselves to ensuring that such things do not happen again,” he said.

Catholics have been upset with Francis’ 2015 appointment of Bishop Juan Barros to head the small diocese of Osorno in south-central Chile. Barros has been accused of protecting his former mentor, Father Fernando Karadima, whom a Vatican investigation found guilty in 2011 of abusing teenage boys over many years. Karadima has denied the allegations and Barros said he was unaware of any wrongdoing.

But the scandal has gripped Chile, and, along with growing secularization, has hurt the standing of the Church that had been praised for defending human rights during the 1973-1990 dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.

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NEW YORK (NY)
Wall Street Journal

January 16, 2018

By Ryan Dube and Francis X. Rocca

Osorno, Chile and Vatican City – Pope Francis’ visit this week renews protests from victims of influential Santiago priest.

Pope Francis ’ three-day visit to Chile will draw attention to what activists describe as one of the most conspicuous weaknesses of his nearly five-year-old pontificate: his failure to take enough action to protect children from clerical sex abuse and punish priests for perpetrating it.

When the Argentine pope arrives in Santiago Monday to begin his sixth visit to Latin America, he will set down in a traditionally Catholic country where revelations of clerical sex abuse have damaged the image of the church, and where the pope’s handling of the problem has drawn particular criticism.

“His record is a disaster,” said Juan Carlos Cruz, a Chilean sex-abuse victim and an organizer of protests planned for the pope’s visit. “People are absolutely disgusted with the way he’s handled abuse and how he’s treated us.”

* * *

After a Vatican inquiry concluded in 2011 that Fr. Karadima was guilty of abusing minors, he was ordered to a life of prayer and penitence.

Accusations of abuse were also lodged that year with civil authorities. A Chilean court declined to prosecute the case, citing a statute of limitations that put allegations dating back to 1980 outside the law’s reach.

Fernando Karadima being escorted from a Santiago court in 2015 after testifying in a case brought by three victims of sexual abuse.

Fr. Karadima is still living in the capital, according to a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Santiago. Attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful. In a 2015 court appearance in Santiago, he insisted on his innocence of all sex-abuse charges.

* * *

Mario Vargas, a spokesman for the Lay Organization in Osorno, which has led efforts to have Bishop Barros removed from the diocese, said the group plans to demonstrate during Pope Francis’ visit to Santiago. The group has asked for a meeting with the pope during his visit to the capital, as has a group of Fr. Karadima’s victims. The Vatican spokesman said Thursday no meeting with victims was scheduled but didn’t rule one out.

Joining protesters in Santiago will be a former member of the Vatican’s commission for the protection of minors, Peter Saunders, who resigned from the body last month after extensively criticizing Pope Francis, including for his appointment of Bishop Barros.

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ST. PAUL (MN)
Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Website

January 11, 2018

By Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda

Father Jonathan Shelley has been authorized to return to limited ministry, serving those who are in prisons and jails in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

Father Shelley has been out of ministry since June 2012, after it was determined that there was pornography on his computer in the early 2000s. The computer evidence was investigated by law enforcement, the case was presented to a prosecutor’s office and a determination was made to not file criminal charges. Prior to Father Shelley’s return to ministry, the Archdiocese’s Ministerial Review Board (MRB) thoroughly reviewed and discussed his case. The MRB recommended to Judge Tim O’Malley, Director of Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment, that Father Shelley be allowed to return to ministry in this limited capacity. Judge O’Malley agreed with that recommendation and I have concurred.

Father Shelley will be serving under the direction and guidance of a deacon who serves as the Coordinator of Corrections Ministry for the Archdiocese. In addition, as with any person ministering in a secure facility, Father Shelley’s activities will be subject to the security and oversight procedures of the Minnesota Department of Corrections and any county facilities visited.

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VATICAN CITY
Reuters

January 14, 2018

By Philip Pullella

Pope Francis starts a trip to Chile and Peru on Monday, attempting to inject new confidence in the staunchly Catholic countries where the Church’s credibility has been severely damaged by sexual abuse scandals.

On his visit to Peru, the second leg of the Jan. 15-22 tour, Francis will also find a destabilizing political corruption crisis has reopened wounds from one of the country’s darkest periods of human rights abuses.

In Chile, where the Argentine pope arrives on Monday night, Catholics have planned daily protests against his 2015 appointment of Bishop Juan Barros to head the small diocese of Osorno, a small city south of the Chilean capital.

Barros has been accused of protecting his former mentor, Father Fernando Karadima, whom a Vatican investigation in 2011 found guilty of abusing teenage boys over many years. Karadima has denied the allegations and Barros said he was unaware of any wrongdoing.

The situation for the Church was complicated last week by the leak in Chile of a 2015 letter from the pope to local bishops showing that the Vatican had planned to ask Barros to take a one-year leave at the end of his previous post in 2014. That plan went awry and Barros was appointed to Osorno.

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VATICAN CITY
Vatican News [the Vatican’s recently launched consolidated news service]

>>Cardinal Parolin: Francis’s 2018 will be in the name of youth and family

January 11, 2018

By Alessandro Gisotti

Intervista al segretario di Stato vaticano sui temi forti del 2018 per il Papa e la Santa Sede
Alessandro Gisotti – Città del Vaticano

L’imminente viaggio apostolico in Cile e Peru, il Sinodo sui giovani, l’Incontro mondiale delle famiglie a Dublino e ancora Amoris Laetitia e la riforma della Curia Romana. Sono i temi forti dell’intervista rilasciata dal cardinale Pietro Parolin a Vatican News. Il segretario di Stato vaticano si sofferma innanzitutto sulle grandi aspettative che la Chiesa nutre nei confronti dei giovani, nell’anno che vedrà la celebrazione del Sinodo dedicato alla gioventù, il prossimo ottobre, preceduto da un pre-Sinodo a marzo:

* * *

E’ sempre l’incontro con le Chiese, è sempre l’incontro con la comunità cristiana. Il Papa va da pastore della Chiesa universale per incontrare delle Chiese locali; naturalmente, Chiese che sono particolarmente vivaci, particolarmente attive come la Chiesa in Cile, come la Chiesa in Perù e che d’altra parte, anche, si trovano ad affrontare numerose sfide di fronte alla realtà del mondo di oggi. Sono tante le sfide! Accenno a due, in particolare, che stanno molto a cuore al Papa. La prima è la sfida della popolazione indigena, degli indigeni: e qui faccio riferimento anche al Sinodo sull’Amazzonia che è stato convocato dal Papa recentemente e che si terrà nel 2019; quindi, qual è il ruolo, qual è il contributo di queste popolazioni all’interno dei singoli Paesi, delle loro società, e per dare un contributo anche a queste società. Poi, un tema che il Papa sente forte e sul quale è tornato con parole anche molto marcate, quello della corruzione, che impedisce lo sviluppo e che impedisce anche il superamento della povertà e della miseria. Credo che sarà un viaggio non semplice, ma sarà davvero un viaggio appassionante.

[Partial Google Translation: It is always the meeting with the Churches, it is always the meeting with the Christian community. The Pope goes as pastor of the universal Church to meet with local Churches; naturally, Churches that are particularly lively, particularly active as the Church in Chile, as the Church in Peru, and which, on the other hand, also face many challenges facing the reality of today’s world. There are so many challenges! I refer to two, in particular, that are very dear to the Pope. The first is the challenge of the indigenous population, of the natives: and here I also refer to the Synod on the Amazon that was convened by the Pope recently and to be held in 2019 ; therefore, what is the role, what is the contribution of these populations within individual countries, their societies, and to make a contribution to these societies. Then, a theme that the Pope feels strong and on which he returned with words also very marked, that of corruption, which prevents development and which also prevents the overcoming of poverty and misery. I think it will not be a simple journey, but it will really be an exciting journey.]

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
La Tercera

>>The Pope begins a journey that “will not be simple”, according to the Vatican

January 14, 2018

By Juan Paulo Iglesias

El secretario de Estado, Pietro Parolin, que acompañará al Pontífice durante su recorrido por Chile y Perú, reconoció que “no será un viaje simple”.

“Mañana (hoy) iré a Chile y Perú. Les pido que me acompañen con la oración en este viaje apostólico”, pidió el Papa Francisco al final de su tradicional saludo del Angelus, que pronuncia los domingos desde el Palacio Apostólico. En la Plaza San Pedro algunos aplausos, un par de banderas chilenas y peruanas, y un grupo de jóvenes con un extenso lienzo donde se podía leer buon viaggio recibieron las palabras del Pontífice, quien sólo un par de horas antes había celebrado una misa en la Basílica de San Pedro con ocasión de la jornada mundial de los migrantes y los refugiados. Bajo un cielo parcialmente nublado y apenas ocho grados -muy distinto a las temperaturas que recibirán al Papa en Chile-, el tradicional pedido de oración que hace el Pontífice cuando emprende alguna peregrinación fuera del Vaticano tenía esta vez una cercanía mayor y se leía, inevitablemente, a la luz de los últimos acontecimientos producidos en Chile, como el ataque incendiario a la Iglesia de San Agustín, de la comuna de Melipilla.

En una entrevista concedida al nuevo sitio de noticias del Vaticano, Vatican News, el secretario de Estado, Pietro Parolin, quien acompañará al Pontífice durante su recorrido por Chile y Perú, reconoció que la cuarta visita a Sudamérica de Francisco “no será un viaje simple”, aunque luego agregó: “Pero, definitivamente, será apasionante”.

[Google Translation: The Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, who will accompany the Pontiff during his tour of Chile and Peru, acknowledged that “it will not be a simple trip.”

“Tomorrow (today) I will go to Chile and Peru. I ask you to accompany me with prayer on this apostolic trip, “Pope Francis asked at the end of his traditional Angelus greeting, which he pronounces on Sundays from the Apostolic Palace. In the Plaza San Pedro some applause, a couple of Chilean and Peruvian flags, and a group of young people with an extensive canvas where you could read Buon Viaggio received the words of the Pontiff, who only a couple of hours before had celebrated a mass in the St. Peter’s Basilica on the occasion of the world day of migrants and refugees. Under a partly cloudy sky and barely eight degrees -very different from the temperatures that will receive the Pope in Chile-, the traditional prayer request that the Pontiff makes when he undertakes a pilgrimage outside the Vatican had this time a greater closeness and was read,

In an interview with the Vatican’s new Vatican news website, Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, who will accompany the Pontiff during his visit to Chile and Peru, acknowledged that Francisco’s fourth visit to South America “will not be a simple trip “, But then added:” But definitely, it will be exciting. ”

“The Pope as pastor of the universal Church is going to find the local churches (…), particularly active churches, but they have to face many challenges,” the cardinal said. Among these, Parolin highlighted two: the situation of indigenous populations – a topic that the Pope would address during his visit to Temuco – and the corruption that, he said, “prevents the development and overcoming of poverty and misery.”

A few words that, added to the latest events in Chile and Peru, have been collected by various Vatican analysts, who highlight the complexity of the visit that the Pontiff will begin today, at 19.55, when the Boeing 777 of Alitalia that transports it lands in Pudahuel, after about 16 hours of flight.

For Andrea Tornielli, one of the journalists closest to the Pontiff and editor of the Vatican Insider site, Francisco’s visit to Chile will be a complex journey. “The protests in Santiago, the resentment toward the Church by the cases of pedophilia and the Mapuche question make it difficult for the Pope to visit,” he wrote in an article published last Saturday, where he warns about the effects that the recent revelation could have. of a letter in which the Pope recognizes before the Chilean episcopate the problems of the situation of the Bishop of Osorno, Juan Barros.

In addition, Tornielli assures that in order to reverse what he describes as “loss of credibility of the Chilean Church in public opinion”, he must “know how to move outside the pre-established programs and the protocols of a trip that is pre-announced complicated.” According to Tornielli, the trip undertaken by Francisco, “which was expected to be a peaceful return to his Latin America and countries he knows well”, may be one of the most complex of his five years of pontificate.

Like Tornielli, the American religious site Crux, of the Vaticanist John Allen, also addressed the difficulties of the visit, especially the effects that pedophilia cases have had on both the Chilean and the Peruvian Church. For the journalist Inés San Martín, the complexity of the trip of the Pontiff is clear in the words of Cardinal Parolin: “It will not be a simple visit”.

But apart from these concerns and as usual before each trip, Pope Francis visited on Saturday the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome to entrust his pilgrimage to the Virgin, and yesterday left the day at 10.00 with the Mass for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

A celebration that brought together about 10,000 people in the Basilica of San Pedro and in which the Pope made a strong call to welcome migrants, despite what he called “legitimate fears and doubts that their arrival generates in the populations local”.

The Pontiff also stated in his message that “the collective and arbitrary expulsions of migrants and refugees are not a suitable solution, especially when they are carried out in countries that can not guarantee respect for dignity or fundamental rights.”

The Mass brought together representatives of communities from 49 countries present in Rome, including the Chilean Marisol Silva, who has been in Italy for 17 years and was in charge of carrying the Chilean flag during the ceremony. “It was a great emotion,” said the woman, who collaborates in the mission of Spanish-American immigrants in Rome.]

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
La Tercera

>>South America, the known terrain of Pope Francis

January 14, 2018

By Antonio Frieser R.

[Note: Includes useful map of visits by Pope Francis to Latin American countries.]

Por cuarta vez, el Pontífice llega al subcontinente, donde ha asumido un rol pacificador de los conflictos de una historia que conoce bien.

Hoy, cuando el Papa Francisco comience su recorrido por Chile, nuestro país se transformará en el sexto destino que el Pontífice visita en Sudamérica desde que asumió el mando de la Iglesia Católica, en marzo de 2013.

Voy “como peregrino de la alegría”, “conozco la historia de sus países, fraguada con tesón, entrega”, dijo Francisco en un mensaje de video emitido el pasado martes en Chile y Perú, países que forman parte de su nuevo viaje.

[Google Translation: For the fourth time, the Pontiff reaches the subcontinent, where he has assumed a pacifying role in the conflicts of a history he knows well.

Today, when Pope Francis begins his tour of Chile, our country will become the sixth destination that the Pontiff has visited in South America since he assumed command of the Catholic Church in March 2013.

I go “as a pilgrim of joy”, “I know the history of their countries, set with determination, dedication,” Francisco said in a video message broadcast last Tuesday in Chile and Peru, countries that are part of his new trip.

Less than two months after serving five years at the head of the Vatican and 81 years, the Argentine Jorge Mario Bergoglio has stamped a stamp of austerity and closeness to the poorest throughout his 21 trips outside Italy, where he has visited 31 countries on four different continents.

And from that long list, the first country visited by the Pontiff was Brazil, where there are the largest number of Catholics in the world. According to the Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae 2015, published by the Vatican, there are 1,285 million Catholics on the planet, of which 49% are in South America, and 172.2 million of them are Brazilian.

During his six-day visit, the Pope participated in the XXVIII edition of the World Youth Day that was held in Rio de Janeiro. And among his challenges was the challenge of revitalizing Catholicism and showing the stamp of his pontificate.

He also visited the Varguinha favela, where months before the Rio police had inaugurated a Pacifying Police Unit (UPP), to disrupt organized crime and drug trafficking in those sectors of the city.

On that occasion, Francisco said: “I appeal to all those who have more resources, public authorities and all people of good will committed to social justice: do not get tired of working for a more just and more supportive world.” In addition, the Pontiff urged the Latin American bishops to “love poverty” and not behave as “princes”, in what was interpreted as a clear allusion of the imprint he intended to impose on the Catholic Church.

In July 2015, Bergoglio returned to Latin America, this time responding to an invitation from the then presidents of Ecuador, Rafael Correa; Bolivia, Evo Morales; and Paraguay, Horacio Cartes.

At that time, the spokesman of the Vatican, Federico Lombardi, explained the election of those countries saying that it was considered “the variety and wealth of the different ethnic groups and populations of those countries: the indigenous groups, the mestizo reality and the local languages, like Quechua, Aymara, Guarani. ”

True to his seal, “the Pope wanted to go to the least important and important countries. That was his first criterion, “concluded Lombardi.

With visits to Quito and Guayaquil, the Pope faced political tensions in favor and against the Correa government. In his meeting with the president, Francisco said in his speech that “the Ecuadorian people have stood up with dignity.” Correa attributed the phrase to the changes that the country was experiencing and what he called “citizen revolution”, but Francisco later clarified that the phrase had been instrumentalized and that he had referred to the border conflict between Ecuador and Peru and the ability of Ecuadorians to get up and take “more and more awareness of their dignity.”

In Bolivia, the Pope’s visit was marked by the maritime theme. Although in his first years of government he had pointed to the Catholic Church as part of his opponents, President Evo Morales greeted the Pontiff saying: “Welcome to a land that has been mutilated access to the sea through an invasion.” Francisco responded by saying later: “I’m thinking about the sea. Dialogue. Dialogue is indispensable “to avoid conflicts with sister countries,” referring to the dispute with Chile.

In Paraguay, Francisco called on young people to “make a mess and organize it well”, in reference to an active participation in the country’s social changes.

The Pontiff’s last stop on his home continent was Colombia, where his message was aimed primarily at the reconciliation of the Colombian people in the framework of the 2016 peace agreement, which ended more than half a century of hostilities. “May this effort make us flee from any temptation to revenge and seek only particular and short-term interests.” He added that we must “heal wounds and build bridges”.]

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VATICAN CITY
La Stampa / Vatican Insider

January 15, 2018

By Gianni Valente

The chaos of the Latin American scenarios alone is enough to make the framework – that reads Bergoglio’s international projections with the same formulas used in the reading of Karol Wojtyla’s pontificate – appear misleading. The icon of “Superstar Pope “ is now used by those who want to polarize attention on him, by separating him from the Church, to then rattle off his “failures”. It wouldn’t take much, however to get rid of this pre-established “script”.

On the eve of Pope Francis’ journey to Chile and Peru, tensions, discontents and even violent acts unleash on the umpteenth apostolic visit of the Bishop of Rome to his home continent. As the media is warming up its engines to present the Latin American trip as a kind of “gripping test” of Bergoglio’s pontificate.

Burning parishes in the name of alleged indigenous causes, and a beat-down Church after years of sexual abuse perpetrated by religious, priests, and high-profile exponents from the local clergy are awaiting the Pope in Chile. While in Peru, a Society of Apostolic Life of Peruvian origin, which in the past had enjoyed good ties within the Vatican, was just put under the administration of an external commissioner by the Holy See, following some serious accusations of sexual abuses involving their leadership.

Furthermore, Francis’ next landings in Chile and Peru have stirred up controversy in his own country of origin. On the Argentinean social media, there are those posting a flurry of resentful comments on the “traitor Pope”, who, almost five years after his pontifical election, has avoided returning to his homeland despite having visited almost all the great countries of South America. And while tens of thousands of compatriots travel to Santiago to see Bergoglio, the Argentine bishops implicitly confirm the excessive conflict surrounding their illustrious compatriot, by spreading a letter in which they remind that: “No one spoke or can speak on behalf of the Pope” and that” his contribution to the reality of our country must be found in his abundant teaching and his attitudes as pastor, not in tendentious and partial interpretations that only widen the division between Argentineans”.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
La Tercera

>>Pope Francisco assured that his visit to Chile “will not be difficult”

January 14, 2018

“Estudié aquí y tengo muchos amigos y conozco bien Chile”, declaró el líder de la Iglesia Católica durante su vuelo rumbo al país.

El papa Francisco aseguró hoy que su visita a Chile “no será difícil” porque estudió allí, tiene muchos amigos y lo conoce bien, durante el vuelo hacia este país.

“Para mí no será un viaje difícil. Estudié aquí y tengo muchos amigos y conozco bien Chile”, comentó a los 70 representantes de los medios de comunicación, entre ellos EFE y el enviado especial de La Tercera, Juan Paulo Iglesias, que viajan con él.

[Google Translation: “I studied here and I have many friends and I know Chile well,” declared the leader of the Catholic Church during his flight to the country.

Pope Francis said today that his visit to Chile “will not be difficult” because he studied there, has many friends and knows him well , during the flight to this country.

“For me it will not be a difficult trip. I studied here and I have many friends and I know Chile well , “he told the 70 representatives of the media, including EFE and the special envoy of La Tercera, Juan Paulo Iglesias , who travel with him.

On Peru he explained that he knew less because he had been alone three times “for agreements or meetings”.

Francisco lived for one year, in 1960, in Chile in the novitiate of the Jesuits.

“We will have time to rest and work,” he said, remembering that it is the longest direct flight, 15 hours and 40 minutes (12,123 kilometers) that the Alitalia airline has, as well as the longest he has done during his pontificate.

“I wish you a good trip. I have been told from Alitalia that it is the longest direct flight that Alitalia has, 15 hours and 40 minutes. We will have time to rest and work. Thank you for your hard work, three days in one country and three in another. ”

At the beginning of the trip, the journalists were distributed a photograph and the Pope explained its meaning later.

“I found it by case, it’s 45 and it’s a boy with his little brother dead on his back waiting for his turn before the crematorium in Nagasaki after the bomb. It moved me when I saw it and I just wanted to write: the fruit of war and I thought about printing it, “he said.

“Because it moves more than a thousand words,” he added.

Francisco then went on to greet the 70 journalists, photographers and cameras that accompany him on this Latin American journey.]

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
Associated Press via WRAL

January 15, 2018

By Peter Prengaman

Leer en español: AP Explica – Cómo se debilitó la Iglesia en Chile

When Pope Francis arrives in Chile’s capital Monday, he will find a weakened Roman Catholic Church. As in many Latin American countries, the church in Chile has been losing followers to both evangelical faiths and increasing secularism. The shift has been exacerbated by a priest sex abuse scandal, and many Chileans are put off by the church’s influence in keeping tight restrictions in social matters like marriage and abortion. Here are some of the contributing factors to the Chilean church’s problems.

Sex Abuse Scandals

Always well dressed, the Rev. Fernando Karadima seemed an ideal priest among the elite in Santiago. But he had a dark side, sexually abusing dozens of minors over decades while church superiors either looked the other way or covered up for him.

Allegations against Karadima went back to the 1980s, but the full weight of his actions didn’t become widely known until victims went public in 2010. In 2011, the Vatican found him guilty of sexually abusing minors.

The statute of limitations had passed for him to be tried criminally, though, and Karadima’s only punishment was being sent by the church to a convent to spend the rest of his life in prayer, angering many Chileans. He is there to this day.

[Also includes sections on:
– Pope’s Controversial Appointment
– Bishops Then and Now
– Divorce
– Abortion]

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LOS ANGELES (CA)
Los Angeles Times

January 15, 2018

By Patrick J. McDonnell, Tracy Wilkinson, and Chris Kraul

Santiago – Pope Francis on Monday begins a weeklong visit to Chile and Peru that is expected to highlight the plight of the continent’s indigenous peoples, the decimation of the Amazon rainforests and the struggles of immigrants and the poor.

The trip will mark the Argentine pope’s fourth visit to South America, following his trip to Colombia in September.

A series of gasoline firebomb attacks on Roman Catholic churches in Chile before the pope’s arrival has dramatized tensions in the church here, which has been riven by cases of clergy sexual abuse.

No one was injured in the attacks overnight Friday on three churches in the capital, and damage was minimal from the crude strikes with gasoline-filled bottles. But following the incidents, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet called on Chileans to receive the pope in a “climate of respect.”

* * *

On Wednesday, the pontiff is slated to travel to the central city of Temuco to celebrate Mass and meet with Mapuche representatives. Several Mapuche leaders condemned the firebombings and rejected violence as a means of social change, a sentiment echoed by other Chilean officials.

“There is no place for violence in a democracy,” said Claudio Orrego, regional governor of the Santiago area.

Also in Chile, victims of clergy sexual abuse have been pushing for a meeting with the pope during his visit here, though no such meeting had been formally scheduled.

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DUBLIN (IRELAND)
Irish Times

January 14, 2018

By Patsy McGarry

To relax would be ‘a profound error which would compound the historical failures’, conference hears.

A Catholic bishop has said that ignorance about the effects of child abuse in the past compounded its harmful effects on the lives of many young and vulnerable people.

“People of my generation began our adult lives with almost no awareness of the pervasiveness and impact of abuse in our society and in all societies,” Catholic Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy said.

“As a consequence, failure to recognise and respond appropriately to the complex issues which abuse presents, has at times compounded the profound and harmful impact on the lives of many young and vulnerable persons,” he said.

“In recent weeks, millions have joined the social media conversation using the hashtag #MeToo, or its equivalent, on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram; women and men denouncing harmful sexual experiences. Many are revealing for the first time, via social media, their own stories. While the majority of those sharing #MeToo stories are adult women, a large number of the shared stories reveal sexual abuse that began when they were still minors,” he said.

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KANSAS CITY (MO)
National Catholic Reporter

January 10, 2018

By Joshua J. McElwee

The leading Catholic clergy sexual abuse tracking website has identified nearly 80 priests in Chile that have been publicly accused of sexually abusing minors, releasing their names online just days before Pope Francis is to visit the country.

BishopAccountability.org calls the list only a sampling of the number of Chilean priests who have likely committed abuse, saying that unlike in the U.S., the church in Chile has yet to face substantial outside investigation into its handling of sexual misconduct.

“This list — is a fraction of the total number of accused clerics who would be known if Chile’s church leaders were required to report to law enforcement, if its legal system allowed victims more time to bring criminal and civil charges, or if dioceses and religious orders were investigated by prosecutors or state commissions,” the group notes in a statement accompanying the database.

Francis is to visit Chile Jan. 15-18 as part of a two-country tour that includes a visit to neighboring Peru Jan. 18-22.

Local observers say attention during the Chilean visit may center on how the pope can help the country’s church regain trustworthiness after a recent spate of cases of clergy sexual abuse.

But the pope himself has also been criticized for his record on the abuse issue, especially his 2015 appointment of Bishop Juan Barros Madrid of Osorno, Chile. Barros has been accused of protecting notorious abuser Fr. Fernando Karadima in the 1980s and ’90s.

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LONDON (ENGLAND)
The Guardian

January 12, 2018

By Dan Collyns in Lima and Piotr Kozak in Santiago

Criticism that Pope Francis is failing to tackle allegations of abuse, in the wake of scandals in both countries, is likely to overshadow his week-long visit

Pope Francis leaves Rome this weekend for a tour of Chile and Peru amid renewed accusations that he is failing to tackle allegations of clerical sexual abuse after scandals in both countries.

The visit comes as the pope seeks to shore up the Catholic church faith against the loss of followers in two of South America’s most conservative nations.

During the week-long visit, the pope will also travel to the Amazon city of Puerto Maldonado in Peru, where he will meet indigenous leaders and is expected to expand on the environmental message of his 2015 encyclical on climate change.

But the tour is likely to be overshadowed by the issue of sexual abuse within the church.

Earlier this week, the Vatican took over a Peru-based Catholic sect whose founder has been accused of sexual and psychological abuse. Meanwhile, in Chile – where the pope arrives on Monday – activists have promised protest every day of the visit over his 2015 appointment of a bishop accused of covering up for one of the country’s most notorious paedophiles.

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EDINBURGH (SCOTLAND)
The Scotsman

January 15, 2018

By John Jeffay

A disgraced priest who sexually abused young boys in care is to give evidence at the Scottish child abuse inquiry.

Sex offender Bernard Traynor, 64, has been called to give his testimony after allegations about him were made to the inquiry by former residents at Smyllum Park in Lanark last month.

Two former residents told Lady Smith, who leads the inquiry, they were sexually abused by Traynor after they were moved to another orphanage run by the same Catholic order in Newcastle.

One witness said he was sexually abused by Traynor at a caravan park in Scarborough in the 1970s.

Another former Smyllum resident said Traynor had sexually abused him at the Wallis’s Holiday Camp in Cayton Bay, Scarborough.

He also said the abuse continued at the St Vincent’s children’s home in Newcastle, run by the Daughters of Charity of Vincent de Paul, for “two or three years” afterwards.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
Associated Press via Washington Post

January 15, 2018

By Nicole Winfield and Eva Vergara

Pope Francis’ visit to Chile was always going to be fraught, but it has taken on an unprecedented degree of opposition with the firebombings of Catholic churches ahead of his Monday arrival and protests by Chileans fed up with priest sex abuse and cover-up.

Francis is coming to a country where around 60 percent of Chileans declare themselves to be Roman Catholics, but where the church has lost the influence and moral authority it once enjoyed thanks to sex scandals, secularization and an out-of-touch clerical caste.

“I used to be a strong believer and churchgoer,” said Blanca Carvucho, a 57-year-old secretary in Santiago. “All the contradictions have pushed me away.”

The pope will try to reverse the trend during his three-day visit, which gets underway in earnest Tuesday with a series of protocol visits for church and state, and will be followed by a three-day trip to neighboring Peru.

In Chile, he plans sessions with migrants, members of Chile’s Mapuche indigenous group and victims of the 1973-1990 military dictatorship. It remains to be seen if he will meet with sex abuse survivors. A meeting isn’t on the agenda, but such encounters never are.

Chile’s church earned wide respect during the regime of Gen. Augusto Pinochet because it spoke out against the military’s human rights abuses, but it began a downward spiral in 2010 when victims of a charismatic, politically connected priest came forward with allegations that he had kissed and fondled them.

Local church leaders had ignored the complaints against the Rev. Fernando Karadima for years, but they were forced to open an official investigation after the victims went public and Chilean prosecutors started investigating. The Vatican in 2011 sentenced Karadima to a lifetime of “penance and prayer” for his crimes, but the church leadership hasn’t won back Chileans’ trust for having covered up Karadima’s crimes for so long.

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DUBLIN (IRELAND)
Irish Times

January 15, 2018

By Patsy McGarry

Kildare and Leighlin diocesan priests rebuke suggestion to ‘prepare for worst’ if called

Catholic priests in Kildare and Leighlin diocese have taken strong exception to “the sinister and false suggestion” from the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) “that a diocesan priest must always prepare for the worst if he is ever called to meet his bishop.”

In a letter to the ACP leadership team, Fr Gerard Breen, secretary to the Council of Priests in Kildare and Leighlin diocese, said the council “strongly disagreed” with contents of a card sent by the ACP advising what a priest should do if called to meet his bishop.

Fr Breen recalled how at a meeting of the Council “one of our priests commented that ‘the card has put a far greater distance between the diocesan priests and the ACP than it has between diocesan priests and their bishops.’All members of the council agreed with this statement,” he said.

He said it was proposed the council write a letter the the ACP “to express our disagreement with the card and the negative impression it advanced about the relationship between diocesan priests and their bishops.”

The card, issued by the ACP last year, is intended to help priests who may be summoned to meet a bishop, possibly in connection with abuse allegations. Designed to fit in a wallet, its seven pointers are in keeping with recommendations of the Catholic Church’s child protection watchdog, its National Board for Safeguarding Children, the ACP said.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
Las Últimas Noticias

>>Anne Barrett-Doyle drew up a list of 78 cases of abuses by the Church in Chile

January 14, 2018

”La visita del Papa es una oportunidad para comenzar a limpiar la casa”

BishopAccountability es una organización estadounidense que se propuso registrar odas las denuncias contra sacerdotes católicos.

By Rodrigo Sepúlveda S.

Si vio la película “Spotlight” hasta el final, quizá recuerde que cuando la pantalla se fundia a negro aparecia una lista de 200 lugares donde se habfan producido denuncias de abusos sexuales por parte de sacerdotes católicos. “Nos aseguramos de incluir ciudades chilenas en esa lista (aparecen mencionadas Providencia, Maipu y Santiago)”, cuenta Anne Barrett Doyle, una de las personas que participó en la elaboración de la nómina y miembro de Bishop Accountability, organización surgida en Boston, EE.UU., en 2003, y que se propuso crear un archivo público permanente sobre la crisis de abusos sexuales que afecta a la Iglesia Católica en el mundo.

Barrett Doyle está de visita en Santiago, donde presentó un nuevo listado, esta vez solo sobre Chile. En él (http://www.bishop-accountability.org/Chile/Banco-de-Datos/) se contabilizan 78 casos de sacerdotes y diáconos, hermanos y hermanas que han sido denunciados por abusos sexuales en el país. ” Nuestro equipo recopiló información de la cobertura de los medios de comunicación y los registros judiciales en línea. No incluimos denuncias basadas en rumores o informes privados. Además, restringimos la base de datos a clérigos católicos acusados de abusar sexualmente de menores. No incluimos casos de sacerdotes cuyas Únicas supuestas víctimas eran adultos en el momento del abuso”, delalla Barrett·Doyle sobre el listado chileno.

[Partial Google Translation: If you watched the movie “Spotlight” to the end, you may remember that when the screen was blacked out there was a list of 200 places where there had been reports of sexual abuse by Catholic priests. “We made sure to include Chilean cities in that list (Providencia, Maipu and Santiago were mentioned),” says Anne Barrett Doyle, one of the people who participated in the preparation of the list of names and a member of Bishop Accountability, an organization that emerged in Boston, USA, in 2003. Its mission is to create a permanent public archive about the crisis of sexual abuse that affects the Catholic Church in the world.

Barrett Doyle is visiting Santiago, where she presented a new list, this time only on Chile. In it (http://www.bishop-accountability.org/Chile/Banco-de-Datos/) there are 78 cases of priests and deacons, brothers and sisters who have been denounced for sexual abuse in the country. “Our team compiled information on media coverage and online court records; we did not include reports based on rumors or private reports, and we restricted the database to Catholic clergymen accused of sexually abusing minors. We didn’t include priests whose only alleged victims were adults at the time of the abuse,” says Barrett Doyle.]

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
24 Horas

>>Spokesman for the Laity and Bishop of Osorno: “The Pope’s zero tolerance is infinite tolerance”

January 12, 2018

Juan Carlos Claret apuntó al poder que tendría el círculo cercano de Fernando Karadima en la administración de Jorge Bergoglio y a las interrogantes que pone sobre la mesa la carta del Sumo Pontífice filtrada el pasado jueves.

Luego de conocerse una carta confidencial del Papa Francisco sobre un supuesto plan para pedirle la renuncia a Juan Barros y darle un año sabático antes de reacomodarlo en labores administrativas; el vocero de los Laicos de Osorno, Juan Carlos Claret, se manifestó sobre las dudas que genera la misiva y cuestionó el manejo del Sumo Pontífice ante los casos de abusos sexuales al interior de la Iglesia Católica.

El escrito – de Francisco I de enero de 2015- menciona una estrategia para alejar de sus funciones a los sacerdotes involucrados como supuestos encubridores de los casos de abuso sexual del ex párroco de la Capilla de El Bosque Fernando Karadima. Todo esto previo a la nominación de Barros como Obispo de Osorno.

[Google Translation: Juan Carlos Claret pointed to the power that would have the close circle of Fernando Karadima in the administration of Jorge Bergoglio and the questions put on the table the letter of the Supreme Pontiff filtered last Thursday.

After knowing a confidential letter from Pope Francisco about a supposed plan to ask for the resignation of Juan Barros and give him a sabbatical year before rearranging him in administrative tasks; the spokesman of the Laity of Osorno, Juan Carlos Claret, spoke about the doubts generated by the letter and questioned the Supreme Pontiff’s handling of cases of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church.

The letter – by Francisco I of January 2015 – mentions a strategy to remove from its functions the priests involved as alleged cover-up of cases of sexual abuse of the former pastor of El Bosque Chapel, Fernando Karadima. All this prior to the nomination of Barros as Bishop of Osorno.

The letter raises doubts about the interventions after that date that the Supreme Pontiff had before the case, where even in a video he treated “lefties” and “fools” to those who asked for Barros’ departure from office.

“In the video the Pope makes a serious mistake, because he says that the only accusation against Juan Barros was discredited, but there is no accusation as far as we know against the bishop.” Karadima’s victims ask for a warrant and the Supreme Court asks in May to the Vatican the background, but Rome in September 2016 says that he will not give the background, that is, he recognizes that there is something, but that he is simply not going to hand it over to the Chilean justice, “says Claret.

The representative of the Laity points to the power that would have the circle of Fernando Karadima in the current administration of Jorge Bergoglio, which had been diminished in the mandate of Joseph Ratzinger.

” The biggest question in this letter is that it demonstrates that the Pope’s zero tolerance for abuses is not zero tolerance, but that it is infinite tolerance .” This is what is shown by a Pope who does not have all the conviction, having everything the power to do it, to be able to put an end to the abuses not only to the authors, but to the concealers, “the spokesman said.

“Mercy misunderstood leads to impunity,” adds Juan Carlos Claret.

Claret also assured that they have no expectations that the Pope will receive them to talk, even after the document is revealed.

“From Osorno we have no expectation if for three years practically the Chilean Church has forced the Osorno church to beg and we have tried to reach the Pope in repeated ways and the Pope did not want to hear us knowing all the information and has decided to treat us fools, “he said.]

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
ADNradio

>>Victims of Karadima lead velatón in the Cathedral of Santiago for thousands of sexual abuse victims

January 14, 2018

[Note: Includes video of speech by Juan Carlos Cruz Chellew.]

Exigen la salida del obispo de Osorno, Juan Barros.

Más de veinte de personas del grupo de laicos de Osorno realizaron una velatón en el frontis de la Catedral de Santiago durante la madrugada, con el fin de exigir la salida del obispo de la ciudad Juan Barros, a quien se le sindica como encubridor de los abusos sexuales cometidos por Fernando Karadima.

La protesta se da sólo 48 horas antes antes del arribo del Papa Francisco a Chile, quien ha sido criticado por el nombramiento de Barros.

La manifestación estuvo liderada por Juan Carlos Cruz Chellew, José Andrés Murillo, Peter Sanders, Anne Barrett Doyle, Timothy y amigos de la Parole Libérée. Todos ellos, representando a más de 10 mil víctimas de abusos por parte del clero al rededor del mundo.

[Google Translation: They demand the departure of the Bishop of Osorno, Juan Barros.

More than twenty people from the group of laity from Osorno made a velatón at the front of the Cathedral of Santiago during the early hours of the morning, in order to demand the departure of the bishop of the city Juan Barros , who is accused of hiding the sexual abuse committed by Fernando Karadima.

The protest occurs only 48 hours before the arrival of Pope Francis in Chile, who has been criticized for the appointment of Barros.

The demonstration was led by Juan Carlos Cruz Chellew, Jose Andres Murillo, Peter Sanders, Anne Barrett Doyle, Timothy and friends of Parole Libérée. All of them, representing more than 10 thousand victims of abuses by clergy around the world

The morning of this Sunday also, dozens of Santiaguinos joined the lay people of Osorno in the demonstrations against Barros, Karadima and Ricardo Ezzati.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
24 Horas

>>Citizens perform a velatón outside Santiago Cathedral demanding the departure of Bishop Barros

January 14, 2018

La manifestación se produjo a menos de 48 horas de la llegada del Papa Francisco a nuestro país.

Un grupo de ciudadanos realizó una velatón en las afueras de la Catedral de Santiago la tarde y noche de este sábado, exigiendo la salida del obispo Juan Barros de su cargo.

Los manifestantes -entre los que se incluían Juan Carlos Cruz y José Andrés Murillo- argumentan que el sacerdote habría encubierto al ex párroco de El Bosque, Fernando Karadima, y a los abusos sexuales que cometía.

[Google Translation: The demonstration took place less than 48 hours before Pope Francis arrived in our country.

A group of citizens held a vigil outside the Cathedral of Santiago on Saturday afternoon and evening, demanding the departure of Bishop Juan Barros from his post.

The protesters – among which included Juan Carlos Cruz and José Andrés Murillo – argue that the priest had covered up the former pastor of El Bosque, Fernando Karadima, and the sexual abuse he committed.

This velatón is not the only activity of citizens questioning the role of Juan Barros. The Lay and Lay Organization of Osorno announced that it will be in the activities of Pope Francis in Santiago and that it will be manifested so that the Supreme Pontiff can make a determination about the problem.

Other citizens who circulated in the sector spontaneously joined the initial group of about twenty people, reports Radio ADN. This Sunday there was a new meeting in the vicinity of the cathedral.]

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
La Nacion

>>Group of Lay People from Osorno Announce Protests during the Pope’s Visit

January 12, 2018

Una veintena de personas del grupo de laicos de Osorno realizaron una velatón en el frontis de la Catedral de Santiago para exigir la salida del obispo de la ciudad Juan Barros, a quien se le sindica como encubridor de los abusos sexuales cometidos por Fernando Karadima.

La protesta se da dos días antes del arribo del papa Francisco a Chile, quien ha sido criticado por el nombramiento de Barros.

[Google Translation: The grouping of Osorninos accused the apostolic nuncio Ivo Scapolo of being “subservient to the interests of the people close to Fernando Karadima”.

Juan Carlos Claret, spokesman for the Laity and Lay organization of Osorno, summoned the Pope and the episcopate of Santiago to meet with victims of sexual abuse by priests , as well as punishments against those who abetted these abuses. This at a press conference held in the vicinity of the Apostolic Nunciature of Santiago.

Following the letter of Pope Francisco of 2015 released on Thursday by Associated Press (AP), in which the Supreme Pontiff explains the background of the designation of Barros as bishop of Osorno, the group of Osorninos announced new manifestations.

For the Laity of Osorno ” the nuncio (Ivo) Scapolo is subservient to the interests of the people close to Fernando Karadima and against that power Cardinal Ezzati and the Pope himself succumb. That letter shows the background of how bishops are chosen in Chile. ”

Claret said that “if you read the letter you will notice that Jesus is not spoken, the highest good is not spoken, the welfare of the diocese is not spoken, but there is talk of a game of thrones of those who want to hold a power, which it is the episcopate, and they do everything possible to keep the cassock. ”

Two days ago Claret said “where the Pope is in Santiago, we will be there”. This is because in his words, and according to the organization he represents, ” without a doubt, a piece is missing here and it is the opportunity that, having it on Chilean soil, the Pope has to respond”.

While the Supreme Pontiff arrived, they announced a velatón in the cathedral of Osorno for this Friday at 8:00 pm , which will be a manifestation to demand answers to the episcopate for cases of abuse and possible cover-ups.

Likewise, a delegation from Osorno will arrive in Santiago to be part of the demonstrations that will accompany the papal activities.]

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
La Tercera

>>Pontiff will visit tomb of the “bishop of the poor”

January 14, 2018

By Rivera and Y. Moya

[Note: This article details various changes made in the Pope’s itinerary.]

El Papa Francisco orará donde descansan los restos de monseñor Enrique Alvear, obispo auxiliar de Santiago. Desde la organización anunciaron cambios en el recorrido que realizará la máxima autoridad de la Iglesia Católica por las calles de Santiago.

“Ojalá cuando llegue pudiese entrar a nuestra comunidad y visitar la tumba de don Enrique Alvear, que es el ‘obispo de los pobres’”. Ese era el anhelo de Julio Larrondo, párroco de la Iglesia San Luis Beltrán, de Pudahuel, cuando supo que el templo sería escenario de la primera parada del Papa en Chile. Y ayer, esta pretensión dejó de ser un deseo.

La comisión que organiza la vista del Papa confirmó ayer que tras la revisión de los últimos detalles por parte de la avanzada del Vaticano se sumará un momento de oración ante la tumba de monseñor Enrique Alvear, ex obispo de Santiago, fallecido en 1982 y conocido como el “obispo de los pobres”.

Cambio de ruta

Los cambios en el itinerario del Papa Francisco, dados a conocer ayer, contemplan que el lunes 15 arribe a las 19.55 al aeropuerto Arturo Merino Benítez, y desde allí se desplazará en un auto cerrado hasta la Parroquia San Luis Beltrán, en Pudahuel. Terminada esta actividad se trasladará hasta calle Brasil con Alameda.

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FORT WORTH (TX)
Star-Telegram

January 11, 2018

By Mitch Mitchell

A judge Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit against the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth filed by a man who said he was sexually abused while a student at a Wichita Falls Catholic school from 1990 to 1992.

Jason Montgomery filed the lawsuit in 2015, saying he was sexually abused by the late Rev. John Sutton while he was a student at Notre Dame Middle High School. Montgomery later amended his lawsuit to say that then-Principal Ron Staley also sexually abused him during that time. Montgomery’s memory of the abuse returned in 2013, according to his lawyer.

Fort Worth Bishop Michael F. Olson investigated the allegations and found no evidence to support his claims, the diocese said. No other allegations of sexual misconduct have ever been made against Sutton, who died in 2004, or Staley, the diocese said.

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DUNDEE (SCOTLAND)
The Sunday Post

January 14, 2018

By Gordon Blackstock

A former priest who sexually abused young boys in care is to give evidence at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.

Sex offender Bernard Traynor, 64, has been called to give his testimony after allegations about him were made to the inquiry by former residents at Smyllum Park in Lanark last month.

Two former residents told Lady Smith, who leads the inquiry, they were sexually abused by Traynor after they were moved to another orphanage run by the same Catholic order in Newcastle.

One witness said he was sexually abused by Traynor at a caravan park in Scarborough in the 1970s.

Another former Smyllum resident said Traynor had sexually abused him at the Wallis’s Holiday Camp in Cayton Bay, Scarborough.

He also said the abuse continued at the St Vincent’s children’s home in Newcastle, run by the Daughters of Charity of Vincent de Paul, for “two or three years” afterwards.

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NEW YORK (NY)
New York Times

January 14, 2018

Leer en español: Mientras el papa visita Chile y Perú, los argentinos se preguntan: ¿y nosotros?

By Daniel Politijan

Buenos Aires – It was a sweltering afternoon at the rundown central bus station in Argentina’s capital, but Amelia Cartes Novoa was beaming despite the intolerable heat.

“I’m so excited,” Ms. Cartes said as she waited on a platform for the bus that would take her on a 21-hour ride across the Andes. She was on her way to attend a Mass that Pope Francis will celebrate in Santiago, Chile’s capital, on Tuesday.

“I’ve done this trip many times before but this one is particularly special,” she said.

Ms. Cartes is among the tens of thousands of Argentines planning to make a pilgrimage to Chile during the peak of the summertime holiday to catch a glimpse of the pope, who was born here in Buenos Aires. Much to the chagrin of many of his countrymen, Francis has not set foot in his homeland since his election in March 2013.

* * *

In Santiago, Francis is expected to face demonstrations for keeping Bishop Juan Barros as head of the Diocese of Osorno, 570 miles south of the capital, despite allegations he helped cover up a notorious case of clerical sexual abuse. Francis appointed him in January 2015 even though he was part of the inner circle of the Rev. Fernando Karadima, whom the Vatican found guilty of sexual abuse in 2011.

Francis called “dumb” the lay and religious organizations protesting in Osorno at the time.

“We are not convinced that the pope has really assumed this zero tolerance policy on sexual abuses,” said Juan Carlos Claret, 24, one of the organizers of the demonstrations. “He has showed infinite tolerance. Having all the power to do something, he prefers to remain ambiguous.”

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NEW YORK (NY)
New York Times

January 13, 2018

By Dan Barry

[Note: See also Barry’s The Lost Children of Tuam, October 28, 2017; the brief (11-minute) NY Times documentary 796 Irish Children Vanished. Why? by Kassie Bracken et al., October 28, 2017; a list of the 796 children; Catherine Corless, The Home, her original investigation, published in the Journal of the Old Tuam Society, Vol. 9, 2012; the Expert Technical Group Report on the Tuam Site with updates; and the website of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes.]

A few years ago, an amateur historian shook Ireland to its core with a ghastly allegation: Hundreds of bodies of young children appeared to have been buried in an abandoned septic system by Catholic nuns who for decades had managed a home for unwed mothers and their offspring in the County Galway town of Tuam.

Then, early last year, investigators confirmed that many commingled human remains have been found in just a single corner of the seven-acre site, where a subsidized housing project had long since replaced the old mother-and-baby home.

Amid the many emotional reactions that followed was one particularly painful question: What should be done with the juvenile remains in the ground?

Last month, a team of forensic experts assembled by Katherine Zappone, Ireland’s minister for children, issued a report that presented several possible answers, but not before noting the “unprecedented” challenges.

“The group has not identified any directly comparable cases, either nationally or internationally, that involved the complexities of commingled juvenile human remains, in significant quantities and in such a restricted physical location,” the report said.

* * *

The report’s suggestions have offended the likes of Peter Mulryan, who spent the first few years of his life in the Tuam home and was eventually handed over to a foster father who beat and exploited him. He learned, only recently, that he had a half sister who died at the home in 1950s and that her remains, presumably, are commingled in the site’s unconsecrated ground.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
Radio Universidad de Chile

>>Anne Barrett-Doyle on Bishop Barros: “He should be removed, but we have no hope of that happening”

January 10, 2018

By Maximiliano Alarcón

La representante de Bishop Accountability, organización estadounidense que recopila información en todo el mundo respecto de miembros de la Iglesia Católica acusados de abuso sexual o violación de menores, presentó un listado con 79 nombres del credo en nuestro país vinculados a estos casos. Todo en medio de la visita del Papa Francisco, de quien esperan alguna acción concreta más que palabras.

Durante este miércoles, en medio de la inminente visita del Papa Francisco a nuestro país, la sede de la Fundación para la Confianza sirvió de espacio para que Anne Barrett-Doyle entregara de manera pública los antecedentes que recopilaron con la organización Bishop Accountability respecto de los sacerdotes o miembros de la Iglesia Católica chilena que han sido acusados alguna vez por abusos sexuales o violaciones en contra de menores de edad.

La lista que se encuentra publicada en el sitio www.bishop-accountability.org consigna a 79 casos nacionales, pero según Barret-Doyle, representante de la organización, es posible que aún existan muchos casos ocultos.

[Partial Google Translation:

Q. Concealment is another of the most serious problems along with cases of abuse or rape. In your experience in other countries, what steps can civil society, journalism or other institutions take to face the cover-up?

A. There must be a law within the church for any bishop or anyone who knows about these abuses to report them. But the real answer comes from outside the church, from lay organizations, from prosecutors who can get involved in this issue and solve it. When a Chilean bishop spends a day in jail you will see changes in the Chilean church.

Q. It is difficult to expect such changes in Chile, which despite being a secular country, invests a large amount of resources in the visit of the pope, in addition to being the church a major player in politics.

A. agree. Investing so much time and resources and not taking concrete actions for the good of the church seems a waste of time.

Q. Do you hope that Pope Francis will make a gesture towards the victims in Chile?

A. In meetings with the victims, which may or may not occur, the really important thing is that after this a change really happens, in the past it has not happened.]

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
Cooperativa

>>Lay of Osorno: We will not lend ourselves to a washing of image during the visit of the Pope

January 13, 2018

A dos días del arribo del papa Francisco a Chile, y en medio de la incertidumbre sobre la postura que adoptará respecto al obispo Juan Barros -sindicado como uno de los encubridores de los abusos del cura Karadima- los laicos de Osorno advirtieron en Cooperativa que, luego de las “humillaciones” que han sufrido, durante la visita “no se prestarán para un lavado de imagen”.

Cabe recordar que el pontífice, en el año 2015, trató de “tontos y zurdos” a quienes, en la ciudad de la Región de Los Lagos, se oponen a la figura de Barros, y los integrantes del movimiento de laicos ya anunciaron manifestaciones durante la visita papal.

Además, en las últimas horas una carta del papa Francisco -dirigida al Comité Permanente de la Conferencia Episcopal de Chile, con fecha del 31 de enero de 2015- reveló un plan del Vaticano para pedir la renuncia y otorgar un año sabático a tres obispos -entre ellos Barros- acusados de encubrir los abusos del ex párroco de El Bosque Fernando Karadima.

[Partial Google Translation: The spokesman of the lay community of Osorno, Juan Carlos Claret , said that “if the Pope wants to speak with us, by virtue of the filtering of this letter, we will be available, but we will not be available to be a conversation where we have to enter through the backyard of the Nunciature (Apostolic) , in which we have to walk saying that we are going to have to keep confidentiality for centuries of the centuries, as Rome does after having private meetings “.

“At this moment we are demanding that we be recognized as equals within the Church, and we will not lend ourselves to games of image washing ,” the activist warned.

“For three years we have been forced to beg inside the Church.” We have repeatedly addressed the Pope, the Apostolic Nuncio (Ivo Scapolo , the Holy See’s principal representative to the Government) has been extremely violent with us ” and, after this letter, “you should leave Chile,” Claret continued.

” The Pope even, on August 16, 2016, was going to receive me in the Vatican , I traveled there, but when I arrived in Rome, the Pope sent me to say through the Embassy of Chile in the Holy Headquarters, through Italo Capurro (second secretary of the permanent diplomatic mission), who was not going to receive me because the issue of Osorno irritates him , “said the spokesman for the city’s laity.]

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CIUDAD DE MÉXICO (Proceso).- El cardenal Carlos Aguiar Retes prometió aplicar “tolerancia cero” a los sacerdotes de la arquidiócesis primada de México que abusen sexualmente de menores de edad: “En el asunto de la pederastia, sigo totalmente lo que ya el Papa Francisco nos ha dicho; ‘tolerancia cero’”, advirtió enfático el pasado lunes 11. Luego indicó que el episcopado mexicano, como cada una de las diócesis del país, tienen “normas” muy estrictas para “afrontar ese mal tan grave” que tanto daña a la Iglesia. Sin embargo, en junio de 2003, cuando era obispo de Texcoco, se descubrió que Aguiar Retes tenía como párroco al sacerdote pederasta nicaragüense Zenón Corrales Cabrera, a quien la justicia de su país estaba buscando por abusar sexualmente de varias mujeres menores de edad. Aguiar Retes tenía trabajando al “padre Zenón” en el poblado mexiquense de Otumba, concretamente en el espléndido templo de La Purísima Concepción, con su regio convento adyacente, verdaderas joyas arquitectónicas levantadas en el siglo XVI. Escondido de la justicia de su país, el padre Zenón oficiaba diariamente sus misas de siete de la mañana y mediodía. Y presenciaba, feliz, las tradicionales carreras de burros que han dado fama a ese poblado aledaño a las pirámides de Teotihuacán. El padre Zenón había huido de la diócesis nicaragüense de Matagalpa, a la que pertenecía, luego de que se le fueron acumulando denuncias por sus abusos sexuales, ampliamente documentados por la prensa local, que lo consideraba “el más peligroso pederasta” de Nicaragua. Entrevistadas en Matagalpa por este semanario, Tatiana Sequeira, integrante de la Comisión de la Mujer, y Geni Gómez, del Grupo Venancia, relataron entonces que desde los años ochenta los informes sobre violaciones a los derechos humanos ya documentaban los abusos sexuales del sacerdote (Proceso 1389). Abusaba, por ejemplo, de adolescentes campesinas integradas al grupo religioso “Hijas de María”, a las que enseñaba a rezar y a entonar cánticos religiosos. Algunas incluso resultaron embarazadas por el sacerdote. No fue sino hasta el 8 de diciembre de 1998 cuando se interpuso la primera denuncia por abuso sexual ante el Juzgado Segundo de Distrito del Crimen, de Matagalpa. Y fue porque el padre Zenón subió a su jeep a una adolescente de 16 años y ahí la violó. Esa denuncia no prosperó gracias a las influencias y a la investidura sacerdotal de Corrales Cabrera. Pero en marzo de 1999 el padre Zenón cayó finalmente preso por “violación frustrada”, ya que, en un centro turístico de Masachapa –al sur de Nicaragua–, intentó violar a una niña de 10 años, a la que pudo rescatar su padrastro, quien luego denunció al sacerdote. Pero éste fue liberado gracias a la intervención del obispo de Matagalpa, Leopoldo José Brenes. Para entonces ya varios medios locales –como El Nuevo Diario y La Boletina– documentaban profusamente los abusos del cura pederasta. Mientras que varias organizaciones de derechos humanos pedían que se le castigara. La Red de Mujeres de Matagalpa, que aglutina a varias organizaciones feministas, publicaba desplegados exigiéndole a la Procuraduría de Nicaragua que lo aprehendiera, por ser “un peligro para las mujeres, la juventud y la niñez”. Al parecer ya se le iba a arrestar cuando el obispo Brenes, su superior jerárquico, tomó la decisión de desaparecerlo. Contó entonces Geni Gómez: “No volvimos a saber de él. La diócesis de Matagalpa no dio explicación alguna. Guardó silencio. Había rumores de que le habían prohibido oficiar. Unos decían que estaba en Costa Rica; otros, que cumplía un duro castigo en algún lugar apartado.” Por pura casualidad se descubrió que estaba en la diócesis de Texcoco, trabajando para Aguiar Retes; fue a raíz de que se le denunció ante la Secretaría de Gobernación, por realizar proselitismo político a favor del PRI. Entonces salió a relucir aquí su nombre… y su escondite. El entonces vocero de la diócesis de Texcoco, Eduardo Israel Salazar, salió en defensa del cura, negando las acusaciones y diciendo: “Usted bien lo sabe; siempre hay grupos de opositores que quieren dañar la imagen moral de nuestros sacerdotes. Lo que sí puedo decirle es que el padre Zenón es un gran sacerdote. Supo ganarse el cariño y la admiración de los fieles de Otumba.” Este reportaje se publicó el 7 de enero de 2018 en la edición 2149 de la revista Proceso.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
Associated Press via Washington Post

January 12, 2018

By Eva Vergara and Peter Prengaman

President Michelle Bachelet asked Chileans on Friday to receive Pope Francis in a “climate of respect,” hours after three Roman Catholic churches were firebombed and a note left at the scene threatening the pontiff.

In the overnight attacks in Santiago, the capital and largest city where the pope will arrive Monday, the churches were hit with firebombs and then sprayed with accelerant. At one, the doors were burned before firefighters extinguished the blaze.

“The next bombs will be in your cassock,” read pamphlets found outside one of the churches.

* * *

It was unclear who might have been behind Friday’s attacks. A small minority of Mapuches have used violence to further their cause, and in recent years churches have been targeted.

Chile also has a handful of anarchist groups that periodically attack property and clash with police during protests.

The pamphlet that threatened the pope mentioned the Mapuche cause and called for the liberation of “all political prisoners in the world.”

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VATICAN CITY
Associated Press via Washington Post

January 12, 2018

By Nicole Winfield

Pope Francis’ trip to Chile and Peru, originally aimed at highlighting the plight of indigenous peoples and the delicate Amazon ecosystem, is being overshadowed by the Catholic Church’s dismal record confronting priestly sex abuse in Chile and political turmoil in Peru.

On the eve of the trip, vandals attacked five churches with firebombs in the Chilean capital of Santiago and warned in a leaflet that “the next bombs will be in your cassock.” That was an unprecedented threat against the pope and a violent start to what were already expected to be the first-ever protests against Francis on a foreign trip.

The Vatican agreed to the Chile visit knowing that the local church had lost much of the moral authority it earned during the Pinochet dictatorship, when bishops spoke out against human rights abuses when other institutions were silenced. But now, the Catholic Church in Chile has been largely marginalized, criticized as out-of-touch with today’s secular youth and discredited by its botched handling of a notorious pedophile priest.

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KANSAS CITY (MO)
Kansas City Star

By Kaley Johnson

January 10, 2018

A Catholic priest who was arrested Monday by Belleville police was charged with 16 counts of child pornography Tuesday.

The Rev. Gerald R. Hechenberger, associate pastor of Holy Childhood Church and school in Mascoutah, Ill., was charged with the following:

– Eight counts of dissemination of child pornography

– Seven counts of possession of child pornography (photos)

– One count of possession of child pornography (video)

Hechenberger, 54, also was charged with possession of methamphetamine.

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OXFORD (ENGLAND)
Oxford Mail

January 9, 2018

By Sophie Grubb

A vicar has been found guilty of ‘spiritually abusing’ a teenage boy.

Reverend Timothy Davis was found guilty of misconduct whilst leading Christ Church in Abingdon, relating to behaviour with a boy aged between 15 and 16 years old.

The Bishop’s Disciplinary Tribunal has released its judgement against Mr Davis, who is aged in his 50s.

It is understood to be the first time a tribunal has convicted a priest of spiritual abuse.

The Diocese of Oxford has condemned his actions, saying he ‘betrayed the trust of everyone involved’.

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COOS BAY (OR)
The World

January 11, 2018

By Tim Epperson

North Bend – Three men filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the Archdiocese of Portland alleging they were sexually abused as children by a priest in North Bend during the early 1980s.

The lawsuit, filed today in United States District Court for the District of Oregon, alleges that the three victims, who were not identified in the complaint, were each abused by the Rev. Pius Brazauskas who worked at the Holy Redeemer Church in North Bend from the late 1970s until as late as 1990.

According to the complaint, the plaintiffs in the lawsuit allege that they were sexually abused on multiple occasions between 1978 and 1982, when they were each between five and 12 years old. They allege that the abuse included the priest French kissing the boys, pressing his erect penis against them and groping their genitals.

The plaintiffs are the first known victims to speak publicly about abuse by Brazauskas.

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PORTLAND (OR)
The Oregonian

January 10, 2018

By Aimee Green

[Note: See also the legal complaint.]

Three men who say they were sexually abused when they were boys in the 1970s and 1980s by a Catholic priest on the Oregon coast filed a $29 million lawsuit Wednesday against the Archdiocese of Portland.

The men say a now deceased priest, Pius Brazauskas, abused them when they were between ages 5 and 12 by French kissing them, groping their genitals and pressing himself against them.

Brazauskas was assigned to Holy Redeemer Church in North Bend at the time, according to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court.

Peter Janci, one of the lawyers representing the men, said he believes this is the first time anyone has publicly named Brazauskas as an alleged child abuser.

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WINNIPEG (MANITOBA, CANADA)
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

January 12, 2018

By Cameron MacLean

A Manitoba man alleges a now deceased priest sexually abused him at a Winnipeg group home — and that a supervisor at the home ignored the abuse when he tried to report it.

The allegations are part of a lawsuit filed last month by the man, who was a ward of Credo Home. That’s the same Winnipeg group home where Catholic priest and convicted pedophile Omer Desjardins worked.

Desjardins died of a heart attack at the age of 85 on Dec. 4, 2017 just as he was about to go to trial on new charges for alleged offences dating back to the late 1980s.

At that time, Desjardins worked as a caretaker at Credo Home, which was run by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, a Roman Catholic religious community to which Desjardins belonged.

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ST. CLOUD (MN)
KNSI

January 12, 2018

By Matt Demczyk

[Note: See also the St. Cloud diocese’s updated list.]

Another name has been added to the list of clergy who served in parishes within the Diocese of Saint Cloud and have been identified as likely to have abused minors.

Father Antonio Marfori becomes the 40th person on the list.

In October of 2015, a lawsuit was filed accusing Marfori of sexually abusing a St. Cloud Cathedral High School student in the 1970s while Marfori was teaching at the school.

Bishop Donald Kettler ordered an investigation and told Marfori that he couldn’t function or present himself as a priest during the investigation.

A second complaint was filed in March of 2016, alleging Marfori sexually abused a minor in the late 1970s while he was an instructor at Cathedral High School.

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HARTFORD (CT)
Connecticut Law Tribune

January 12, 2018

By Andrew Denney

[See also the complaint regarding abuse by Fr Charles Many.]

Father Charles Many molested Andrew Aspinwall when he was an altar boy in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The Diocese of Norwich, a Catholic church in Groton and a Vermont-based order of priests have agreed to pay a $900,000 settlement to a New London man who says a priest molested him when he was an altar boy at the church in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Plaintiff Andrew Aspinwall says he was molested by Father Charles Many, who was assigned to the Sacred Heart Church in Groton by the Society of St. Edmund. The church is within the Diocese of Norwich.

Many was removed from parish service in 1986, according to a news release from Kelly Reardon of the Reardon Law Firm, which represented Aspinwall.

Reardon was able to obtain documents from the Society of St. Edmund’s archives showing that church officials knew as early as 1976—two years before he was assigned to Sacred Heart—that Many was “receiving boys in his room.”

In an interview, Reardon said Aspinwall’s decision to make his name public in the case was both “brave” and unusual for an abuse victim, but that he did so after much thought to encourage other potential victims to come forward.

“He thought it was important for people not to hide after something horrible like this has happened to them,” Reardon said.

Aspinwall filed suit in 2015 alleging nine counts against the defendants, which also included Bishop Daniel Reilly, accusing them of negligence, reckless and wanton conduct, conspiracy to commit fraud and other claims.

Reardon said her firm has handled at least 20 cases involving victims of sexual abuse at the hands of clergy members.

Bradford Babbitt of Robinson & Cole appeared for the diocese and Philip Newbury Jr. of Howd & Ludorf appeared for the Society of St. Edmund. They could not be reached for comment.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
El Mostrador

>>Letter reveals that Pope Francis recommended giving sabbatical to Bishop Barros to lower the tension on cases of sexual abuse

January 12, 2018

En el escrito dirigido al Comité Permanente de la Conferencia Episcopal de Chile, el máximo jerarca de la Iglesia católica confesó que sabía de la polémica generada por las denuncias entorno al obispo de Osorno por su encubrimiento a Karadima.

A cuatro días de que el Papa Francisco llegue a Chile, The Associated Press, dio a conocer una reveladora carta escrita por el máximo jerarca de la Iglesia católica en donde reconoce que el Vaticano estaba preocupado por los daños que provocaría el caso de Karadima en Chile y que por eso intentó poner en marcha un plan para lidiar con los abusos sexuales.

En la misiva dirigida al Comité Permanente de la Conferencia Episcopal de Chile, Francisco intenta justificar el nombramiento del 10 de enero de 2015, cuando designó a Barros obispo de la ciudad de Osorno.

[Partial Google Translation: This Friday, the Episcopal Conference of Chile referred to the letter written by its Supreme Pontiff, and confirmed its authenticity through its spokesman Jaime Coiro. “Our spokesperson @ JaimeCoiro confirms the authenticity of the Pope’s letter to the Standing Committee of the CECh disclosed by @ APNews, ” they said through their Twitter account.

Our spokesperson @JaimeCoiro confirms the authenticity of the Pope’s letter to the Standing Committee of the CECh disclosed by @APNews .

– Conf.Episcopal Chile (@episcopado_cl) January 12, 2018

It should be remembered that the revelation of this letter is opposed to the statements that the Pope delivered in 2015, where he publicly defended Barros and even went so far as to say that the inhabitants of Osorno suffered from “fools” and that they allowed themselves to be manipulated by “left-handers”.

On the occasion, Bergoglio claimed to be “the first to judge and punish someone who has accusations of that kind, but in this case there is no proof, I tell you from my heart.”]

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
El Mostrador

>>Ezzati on accusations of cover-up and letter from the Pope: “I have acted with great truth, despite what some deranged minds in the US say”

January 12, 2018

Este viernes el arzobispo de Santiago, Ricardo Ezzati, se refirió a la carta escrita por el Papa Francisco en 2015 que revela que tenía conocimiento sobre las denuncias en contra del obispo de Osorno, Juan Barros, por encubrimiento de los abusos cometidos por Fernando Karadima.

“Los abusos son siempre muy graves. Yo siempre he dicho que aunque hubiera solamente un caso, ese caso sería sumamente grave. Frente a todos los abusos yo puedo decir, personalmente, que he tenido siempre una claridad muy grande”, afirmó Ezzati.

Asimismo recalcó que dicha carta no es de su competencia porque la recibió la Conferencia Episcopal y no él.

Sin embargo, aclaró que “he actuado siempre con mucha verdad y con mucha conciencia, a pesar de lo que digan algunas mentes desquiciadas en EE.UU.”, haciendo referencia también a la publicación de la organización internacional Bishop Accountability que durante esta semana dio a conocer datos sobre las denuncias de abusos sexuales en contra de la Iglesia Católica en Chile y que acumula 78 casos.

[Partial Google Translation: However, he clarified that “I have always acted with much truth and with a lot of conscience, in spite of what some deranged minds say in the USA”, also referring to the publication of the international organization Bishop Accountability that during this week gave to know facts about the denunciations of sexual abuses against the Catholic Church in Chile and that it accumulates 78 cases.]

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MADRID (SPAIN)
Religión Digital

>>The Nuncio in Chile “complicated and blocked” the resignation of Juan Barros

January 12, 2018

By Jesus Pretty

El Papa Francisco quiso frenar el ‘caso Barros’… y no pudo. Esta es una de las conclusiones que pueden sacarse de una carta que Bergolio envió a la Conferencia Episcopal chilena el 31 de enero de 2015, y que acaba de desvelar la Associated Press.

En la misma, el Papa revela que intentó pedir la renuncia al actual obispo de Osorno, y a otros dos prelados vinculados al pederasta Fernando Karadima, y que habían sido acusados de encubrimiento. Sin embargo, algo falló. ¿Qué pasó realmente?

El Papa intenta explicarlo en la misiva: “Surgió luego, hacia fin de año (últimos días de diciembre de 2014), un problema serio. El Sr. Nuncio (Ivo Scapolo) le pide a Mons. Barros la renuncia y lo exhorta a tomar un período sabático (un año, por ejemplo) antes de asumir otra responsabilidad pastoral como Obispo diocesano. Y le comentó que el mismo proceder se tomará con los obispos de Talca y de Linares (también implicados en el caso Karadima), pero que no se los dijera a ellos”.

[Partial Google Translation: Everything seems to indicate that the Nuncio was ahead of the wishes of the Pope and that, by ‘exhorting’ Barros to resign, he prevented a dialogue between the controversial bishop and Francisco. Then, Barros would not submit his resignation voluntarily, but obliged by the papal representative, who should have been admonished by Cardinal Ouellet. However, the performance of the Nuncio “complicated and blocked” any solution to the Osorno theme.

According to Ap, the Vatican was concerned “about the collateral damage that would be caused by the worst pedophile cure in Chile and tried to implement a plan: request the resignation and give a sabbatical to three Chilean bishops accused of having covered up the abuses of that priest. ”

In the end, on January 10, 2015, Francisco named Barros bishop of the city of Osorno , about 930 kilometers south of the Chilean capital, provoking a cataract of protests that became visible on the day of his episcopal ordination, and that, three years later, they still continue. It is expected that during the imminent visit of the Pope to Chile, the “Osorno case” will return to the fore. In fact, some of Karadima’s victims have asked to meet with the Pope, without any meeting so far.]

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BUENOS AIRES (ARGENTINA)
Infobae

January 12, 2018

>>Letter from Pope Francis revealed in which he exposes the Vatican plan to deal with the sexual abuse of a priest in Chile

[Note: See the AP report and the letter.]

La agencia de noticias Associated Press publicó una misiva confidencial del Sumo Pontífice, fechada el 31 de enero de 2015. Allí señala la intención de darle “un año sabático” a tres obispos acusados de encubrir los crímenes del cura Fernando Karadima y por qué se frustró la estrategia

El Vaticano estaba preocupado por los daños colaterales que provocaría el caso del mayor cura pederasta de Chile e intentó poner en marcha un plan: pedir la renuncia de Fernando Karadima y darles un año sabático a tres obispos chilenos acusados de haber encubierto los abusos de ese sacerdote.

The Associated Press obtuvo una carta confidencial del papa Francisco, fechada el 31 de enero de 2015, la cual revela parte de un plan del Vaticano sobre cómo lidiar con los obispos chilenos señalados de proteger los crímenes del cura.

[Partial Google Translation: This priest was for decades at the head of El Bosque church, in the elegant Providencia neighborhood of Santiago, Chile, and turned it into a hotbed of more than 50 priests, as well as training five bishops: Andrés Arteaga, Felipe Bacarezza, Horacio Valenzuela, Tomislav Koljatic and Juan Barros.

The Chilean Catholic Church ignored for years the complaints of acolytes that Karadima had sexually abused them, and only initiated some actions after the victims made their cases public in 2010.]

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
La Tercera

>>According to study, Chile is the country in Latin America that rates the Pope lowest

[See the report El Papa Francisco y La Religión en Chile y América Latina.]

January 12, 2018

By Rodrigo Retamal

Un informe de Latinobarómetro señala, además, que nuestro país es el que cuenta con menos católicos y el que confía menos en la iglesia dentro de la zona geográfica analizada. Revisa el documento.

A tres días de la primera visita que el Papa Francisco realizará a Chile, Latinobarómetro -encuesta de opinión pública que representa la percepción de los mayores de edad en 18 países de América Latina- dio a conocer los resultados del estudio “El Papa Francisco y la Religión en Chile y América Latina Latinobarómetro 1995-2017”, los que evidencian cómo ha evolucionado la opinión que tienen los latinoamericanos respecto de la religión y de la figura del Pontífice en los últimos 22 años.

De los 18 países encuestados, Chile presenta una serie de particularidades que se han ido acentuando a través del tiempo: Si el promedio de los latinoamericanos evaluó en 2017 al Papa Mario Bergolio con nota 6,8 en un rango que va de 0 a 10, Chile le entregó la peor nota de la región con un 5,3. Perú, país al que asistirá el Papa una vez que finalice su visita por nuestro país, lo evalúa con un 6,8, mientras que su país de origen, Argentina, le otorga un 6,6.

[Partial Google Translation: In the particular case of Chile, the percentage of Catholics fell from 74% in 1995 to 45% in 2017. According to the study, this decrease was sustained since 2010, when it fell from 65 to 60% in one year, which coincides with the uncovering of the “Karadima Case”. “Only the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Uruguay, Chile and Honduras have less than 50% of Catholic inhabitants according to the survey.” says Lagos.

Along with diminishing the practice of Catholicism, Latinobarómetro also showed a surprising drop in confidence toward the church, especially in Chil e. If in 22 years confidence in this institution dropped from 76% to 65%, in Chile it experienced a sharp drop, going from 80% in 1995 to 36% in 2017.]

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
La Tercera

>>Ezzati rules out participation in letter sent by Pope to Episcopal Conference by Bishop Barros

January 12, 2018

[Note: Cardinal Ezzati was the president of the bishops conference and its permanent (standing) committee at the time that Pope Francis sent the letter to the committee. The announcement of his reelection to a three-year term was made on November 7, 2013.]

El Arzobispo de Santiago también se refirió a los templos incendiados durante las últimas horas.

Este viernes el Arzobispo de Santiago, Ricardo Ezzati, recorrió las iglesias afectadas por los ataques incendiarios durante las últimas horas en Peñalolén, Estación Central, Quinta Normal y Recoleta. Además se refirió a la carta enviada por el Papa a la Conferencia Episcopal en 2015 donde abordaba la situación de Barros.

“Nos duelen profundamente estos hechos contradicen el espíritu de paz que anima la visita del Papa al país”, sostuvo Ezatti.

Y llamó a “reflexionar sobre la necesidad de que exista respeto y tolerancia entre todos, para construir una patria de hermanos”.

[Partial Google Translation: “The letter is authentic, what it says there is what the Holy Father says. The content of what the letter says is not my competence, I do not know what may have been behind. The letter was received by the Episcopal Conference, it was not sent to me personally, it was addressed to the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Conference “said Ezzati when asked about this issue.

Consulted by the possibility that the Pope would have contemplated asking Barros to take a sabbatical year, the Archbishop said: “Abuses are always very serious. I have always said that even if there were only one case, that case would be serious. And in front of all the abuses I say that I have a very great clarity and I have acted with a lot of truth and a lot of conscience, in spite of what some deranged minds in the United States say “.

However, he insisted that he can not interpret the intentions of the letter. “Regarding the intentions I had, if it was Monsignor Barros in his dialogue with the nuncio or in his dialogue with the Pope, do not ask me because that is not my competence.]

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
La Tercera

>>Pope’s letter of 2015 reopens controversy by Bishop Barros

January 12, 2018

By C. Reyes and P. Castillo

“La carta es auténtica, lo que dice allí es lo que dice el Santo Padre. El contenido no es de competencia mía, no sé lo que puede haber habido detrás. Fue recibida por la Conferencia Episcopal, no fue enviada a mí personalmente, fue dirigida al Comité Permanente de la Conferencia Episcopal”.

De esta forma, el arzobispo de Santiago, cardenal Ricardo Ezzati, se refirió y validó la misiva que data de 2015 y que la Agencia AP publicó hoy, en la cual el Papa Francisco se refería al nombramiento de Juan Barros como obispo de Osorno, a la aparente preocupación de los obispos chilenos y a la solicitud del nuncio apostólico, Ivo Scapolo, de pedirle un año sabático al prelado del sur.

“Muchas gracias por manifestar abiertamente la inquietud que en estos momentos tienen respecto del nombramiento de Mons. Juan Barros Madrid. Comprendo lo que me dicen y soy consciente de que la situación de la Iglesia de Chile es difícil debido a todas las pruebas que han tenido que soportar”, se lee en el documento, fechado el 31 de enero de 2015 y firmado por el Pontífice.

[Partial Google Translation: In addition, the document was known in a complex day for the Apostolic Nunciature, following two manifestations that took place in front of its offices in Providencia. The most relevant was carried out by a group of lay people from Osorno who opposed Barros. His spokesman, Juan Carlos Claret, said that “this letter comes to reaffirm suspicions that we have been enunciating for three years regarding the procedure of the nuncio Ivo Scapolo”.

In the Episcopal Conference it was also ratified that “the letter that the AP agency has made known is effective, it was received by the bishops of the Standing Committee (of the CECh) in February or March of the year 2015”.]

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
24 Horas

[Ezzati and attacks on churches: “It means that the Pope’s visit is so valuable that some do not like it”]

January 12, 2018

[Note: Includes video of Cardinal Ezzati’s entire interview.]

El cardenal Ricado Ezzati visitó la Iglesia Santa Isabel de Hungría, en Estación Central, la que fue atacada con elementos incendiarios y panfletos contra la visita del Papa Francisco.

El arzobispo metropolitano señaló tras visitar los templos afectados que “gracias a Dios los daños materiales no son de gravedad. La gravedad es la intolerancia de quienes teniendo el derecho de disentir, disienten con formas que no son adecuadas”.

* * *

Respecto a la misiva revelada por AP en donde se exhibe la preocupación del Papa Francisco por la designación del obispo Juan Barros, el sacerdote manifestó que “la carta es auténtica, lo que dice ahí es lo que dice el Santo Padre, lo que dice no es de competencia mía, no sé qué habrá habido detrás, no la recibí personalmente”, aseveró.

“Los abusos siempre son muy graves, frente a todos los abusos puedo decir que siempre he tenido una claridad muy grande y he actuado con mucha verdad y conciencia, a pesar de lo que digan algunas mentes desquiciadas de Estados Unidos”, enfatizó.

[Partial Google Translation: Regarding the letter revealed by AP in which the concern of Pope Francis for the appointment of Bishop Juan Barros is exhibited, the priest said that “the letter is authentic, what it says there is what the Holy Father says, what it says It’s my competence, I do not know what was behind it, I did not receive it personally, “he said.

[4:53] The abuses are always very serious, in the face of all the abuses I can say that I have always had a very great clarity and I have acted with a lot of truth and conscience, in spite of what some deranged minds of the United States say,” he emphasized.]

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VATICAN CITY
Religión Digital

The full Spanish text of the Pope’s letter regarding Bishop Barros with a Google translation.

Vatican, January 31, 2015

To the Bishops of the Permanent Committee of the Episcopal Conference of Chile

Dear brothers:

I received the email dated 23 of this month. Thank you very much for expressing openly the concern that you have at this moment regarding the appointment of Bishop Juan Barros Madrid. I understand what they tell me and I am aware that the situation of the Church of Chile is difficult due to all the tests that have had to endure.

I assure you, in addition to my fraternal understanding, my closeness as a brother and my prayer.

I remember well your visit in February of last year and also the various proposals, which I found prudent and constructive.

However, a serious problem arose later in the year. Señor Nuncio [Archbishop Ivo Scapolo ] asks Msgr. Barros to resign [from his position of Bishop of the Military Ordinariate of Chile] and urges him to take a sabbatical (one year, for example) before assuming another pastoral responsibility as a diocesan Bishop. And he says that the same procedure will be taken with the Bishops of Talca [Bishop Horacio del Carmen Valenzuela Abarca] and Linares [Bishop Tomislav Koljatic Maroevic], but not to tell them. Msgr. Barros sends the text of his resignation adding this comment from the Nuncio.

As you can understand, this comment by Señor Nuncio complicated and blocked any eventual further path in the sense of offering a sabbatical year. We discussed the matter with Cardinal Ouellet [President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops] and I know that he spoke with Señor Nuncio.

In these moments, by express indication of the Congregation for Bishops, Bishop Barros is doing the month of Spiritual Exercises in Spain. I do not know if it will pass through Rome at the end, but I will warn Cardinal Ouellet and the suggestion that you make.

I thank you once again for your openness and frankness in expressing your opinion and feeling: it is the only way to work for the Church, whose care the Lord has entrusted to the Bishops.

I ask you, please, to pray for me, because I need it.

May Jesus bless you and the Holy Virgin take care of you.

Fraternally,
Francisco

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KANSAS CITY (MO)
Kansas City Star

January 10, 2018

By Rick Montgomery

The girl stepped into the courtroom with her new biker friends.

They had provided a motorcade escort to her family — two motorcyclists ahead of a donated car (no identifying plates) and two behind. They cocooned the 13-year-old when she entered the Wyandotte County building.

The bikers, with prosecutors and counsel, surrounded her as she and her parents walked down the hallways and to their seats before a judge.

They stayed close to ensure the girl would have minimal eye contact with the priest she was accusing.

On one side of the courtroom during the December criminal hearing sat Catholic parishioners and clergy. They were shoulder to shoulder, many in formal black attire. Some prayed aloud with rosaries.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
The Clinic Online

[Open letter from James Hamilton to Pope Francis]

January 8, 2018

Aún no comprendo cómo nosotros, los miles de víctimas de abuso, no hayamos sido protegidos por nuestros pastores y sacerdotes, quienes eran testigos mudos de lo que nos pasaba.

Hace pocos días un respetado sacerdote “progre” comentaba que no se sentía en condiciones de denunciar, ni siquiera ante su obispo, a otro sacerdote abusador o perverso. El argumento que esgrimía era que en la justicia civil el testimonio de un cónyuge, hermano o familiar directo, no se consideraba válido, y dado que para él el involucrado era más que un hermano de sangre, no podría elevar testimonio en su contra.

Por breves momento tuve un flashback de cuando Fernando Karadima les hablaba a “sus” sacerdotes y obispos acerca de la dignidad sacerdotal, que pasaban a ser hermanos de Jesucristo y que eso los hacía entrar en la comunidad de los elegidos.

[Partial Google Translation: I still do not understand how we, the thousands of victims of abuse, have not been protected by our pastors and priests, who were silent witnesses of what was happening to us.

A few days ago a respected priest “progre” commented that he did not feel able to denounce, even before his bishop, another abuser or perverse priest. The argument that he wielded was that in civil justice the testimony of a spouse, brother or immediate family member was not considered valid, and since for him the person involved was more than a blood brother, he could not raise testimony against him.

For a brief moment I had a flashback of when Fernando Karadima spoke to “his” priests and bishops about priestly dignity, who became brothers of Jesus Christ and that made them enter the community of the elect.

In that moment, I never imagined that those words were so prophetic. With time before me, a solid, unshakeable ecclesial structure was unveiled, forged in the infinite pacts of silence that they have to protect themselves, while spilling thousand-year-old blood in the bodies of defenseless, curious and kind children who are left to their care.

* * *

Why, faced with the loyal and trusting denunciation of victims already weakened by suffering and age, through the channels established by yourselves, the response has almost invariably been the same: denial, indifference, silence and coldness?

Why is it allowed for the silent transfer of these clerics to other parishes and even other countries or continents, where thousands of children and adolescents continue to be exposed to these predators?

How was it left to numerous priests already identified as pedophiles and abusers in charge of homes for minors?

How was it never explained to us that we were the real victims when the priests gave us an ear to each confession, where we blamed ourselves for having committed a very serious sin that finally induced them to sin against them?]

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
24 Horas

[Spokesman for lay people in Osorno: “Where the Pope is in Santiago, we will be there”]

January 9, 2018

By Francesca Cassinelli

Juan Carlos Claret anunció las protestas que planea la organización para manifestar el disgusto por el nombramiento del Obispo Juan Barros, cercano a Karadima.

El próximo lunes aterrizará en Chile el Papa Francisco y entre los temas que rodean su visita hay algunos tópicos que podrían desencadenar manifestaciones en los lugares que visitará.

Uno de los temas es el caso del nombramiento del obispo Juan Barros Madrid en Osorno, sacerdote que ha sido ligado a Fernando Karadima y que diversas organizaciones ciudadanas apuntan como encubridor del ex párroco condenado por abusos sexuales.

[Partial Google Translation: The spokesman of the organization of laity and secular of Osorno, Juan Carlos Claret , anticipates that some representatives of the group will travel to Santiago next Sunday to express their displeasure with the appointment and request measures in this regard.

“Where the Pope is in Santiago, we will be there.” We discard the Araucanía because it has its own agenda, ” Claret says to 24Horas.cl , stating that they will carry banners and shout.

“We demand that the authority be consistent because we are generally prevented from demonstrating with placards or shouting at religious activities,” the spokesperson said, adding that if shouting and placards are allowed to the parishioners, the protesters should also be allowed.]

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
Cooperativa

[Felipe Berríos: I do not understand why the Pope does not meet with the victims of Karadima]

January 11, 2018

El sacerdote jesuita Felipe Berríos dijo a Cooperativa que, durante su visita a Chile, el papa Francisco debería hacer a lo menos un “gesto” a las víctimas de abusos sexuales de Fernando Karadima, y recibirlas para escuchar “lo que tienen que decir”.

“Yo la verdad es que no entiendo por qué (no se hace). Se argumenta que el papa está solamente tres días, pero se podría haber hecho algún gesto pequeño, un encuentro del papa sobre todo con las víctimas del caso Karadima, que es tan emblemático, para que pueda oír lo que ellos tengan que decir”, dijo Berríos a El Diario de Cooperativa.

[Partial Google Translation: The Jesuit priest Felipe Berríos told Cooperativa that, during his visit to Chile, Pope Francisco should make at least one “gesture” to the victims of sexual abuse of Fernando Karadima , and receive them to listen to “what they have to say”.

“The truth is that I do not understand why (it is not done.) It is argued that the pope is only three days, but a small gesture could have been made, a meeting of the pope especially with the victims of the Karadima case, which is so emblematic , so that I can hear what they have to say.

* * *

Berríos stressed that the members of the Osorno lay movement ” are Catholics, they are people who belong to the Catholic community and who, out of affection for the Church, pronounce themselves in this way,” announcing demonstrations during the papal visit .

“They are not against the Church or against the Pope, they are against certain attitudes that the hierarchical church has had, that is what they are alleging and they have every reason to do it (…) I do not see as a bad thing all this is done with respect and without violence, “he said.]

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NEW YORK (NY)
New York Times

January 12, 2018

By Ariel Dorfman

Santiago, Chile — On Monday, Pope Francis begins a four-day visit to Chile. For his trip to be successful, he must confront the scandalous sexual crimes of a vile Chilean priest, Fernando Karadima. Newspapers and television broadcasts in Santiago are filled with reports about Father Karadima’s abuse of minors and his impunity.

The allegations against Father Karadima were brought to the attention of the Chilean church in 2004. No inquiry was opened until the victims — after being pressured into silence for years — finally went public.

On Thursday morning, a poll on a Santiago radio station claimed that 90 percent of Chileans want the pope to meet the victims, ask for forgiveness and condemn Father Karadima. On Monday, victims abused by priests from several countries are meeting the Chilean victims to denounce the Vatican’s inadequate response to sexual abuse. And there is talk of protests during the papal visit.

I was 16 when I first encountered Father Karadima in 1958. He was a spiritual guide to fervently religious friends who attended the wealthy parish of El Bosque, over which he presided, a short bike ride away from my home in Santiago.

Though I was an atheist myself, of Jewish origin and left-wing ideas, I was intrigued by the awe in which my buddies held this 27-year-old priest they called saintly, the wisdom and solace they said he offered them, troubled as they were by the doubts and confusion of puberty. So when I received, to my surprise, an invitation to talk with the holy man, I did not hesitate to accept.

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VICTORIA (BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA)
The Age

January 12, 2018

By Adam Cooper

A former Catholic priest will stand trial on charges he sexually assaulted six children across Victoria more than 30 years ago.

Peter Maurice Waters, 72, was this week committed to stand trial after a four-day hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court that was closed to the public while the alleged victims gave evidence.

He has pleaded not guilty to 20 charges of sexual offending against children, including multiple counts of indecent assault, one of carnal knowledge of a girl aged between 10 and 16 and one of committing an act of gross indecency in the presence of a child.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE) AND VATICAN CITY
Associated Press via Washington Post

January 11, 2018

By Eva Vergara and Nicole Winfield

The Vatican was so concerned about the fallout from Chile’s most notorious pedophile priest that it planned to ask three Chilean bishops accused of knowing about his decades-long crimes to resign and take a year’s sabbatical — a revelation that comes just days before Pope Francis makes his first visit to Chile as pope.

A confidential 2015 letter from Francis, obtained by The Associated Press, details the behind-the-scenes maneuvering by the Vatican and Chile’s bishops to deal with the prelates connected to the disgraced Rev. Fernando Karadima. And it reveals the bishops’ concern about Francis naming a Karadima protege, Bishop Juan Barros, to the helm of the diocese of Osorno — an appointment that roiled the diocese, with hundreds of priests and lay Catholics staging protests against him.

Those protests are expected to greet Francis during his visit to Chile, which begins Monday.

Chile’s Catholic Church was thrown into crisis in 2010 when former parishioners publicly accused Karadima of sexually abusing them when they were minors, starting in the 1980s — accusations they had made years earlier to Chilean church leaders but that were ignored. The scandal grew as Chilean prosecutors and Vatican investigators took testimony from the victims, who accused Barros and other Karadima proteges of having witnessed the abuse and doing nothing about it.

In his Jan. 31, 2015, letter, written in response to Chilean church leaders’ complaints about the Barros appointment, Francis revealed for the first time that he knew that the issue was controversial and that his ambassador in Chile had tried to find a way to contain the damage well before the case made headlines.

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GUAM
Pacific Daily News

January 11, 2018

By Haidee V Eugenio

Archbishop Anthony Apuron’s nephew, Mark M. Apuron, Wednesday filed a lawsuit in federal court, accusing the archbishop of raping him when he was a teen, in 1989 or 1990.

It’s the fifth lawsuit accusing Archbishop Apuron of sexually abusing or raping boys, and the first to accuse him of doing so after he had been elevated to the position of archbishop. The other four lawsuits allege Apuron abused Agat altar boys in the late 1970s, when he was parish priest in that village.

Apuron became Guam’s archbishop in 1986, and has been the subject of a Vatican canonical trial since 2016. The trial, which will determine whether Apuron remains a member of the clergy, started after the former Agat altar boys publicly accused him of assaulting them.

A decision in the canonical trial was reached in October 2017, according to new Archbishop Michael Byrnes, who this week said the Vatican has not yet stated the outcome. As coadjutor archbishop for Guam, Byrnes has the right to succeed Apuron.

Mark Apuron’s lawsuit states he was raped in the archbishop’s bathroom at the chancery during a religious event in 1989 or 1990, when he was around the age of 15 or 16.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
Associated Press via El Nuevo Herald in Miami

[They release web site on Chilean clerical abusers]

January 10, 2018

By Eva Vergara

Una organización estadounidense presentó el miércoles un sitio web que incluye un listado de 78 religiosos católicos de Chile que han sido acusados y/o condenados por abusar sexualmente de menores de edad.

Anne Barrett Doyle, codirectora de BishopAccountability.org, describió el sitio en rueda de prensa como “el mayor archivo público disponible, sólo comparable con los archivos privados de la Iglesia”. Barret explicó también que la divulgación de la lista se realiza a sólo cinco días de la visita del Papa Francisco a Chile con la esperanza de que algunos de sus asesores “le haga ver que no ha cumplido con su política de tolerancia cero en este tema”.

La lista incluye sacerdotes, monjas y hermanos y los datos fueron recabados a partir de denuncias, incidentes difundidos por medios de comunicación y antecedentes judiciales. El criterio para incorporar a los abusadores fue que según los documentos consultados, las supuestas víctimas hayan sido menores de edad y los presuntos responsables hayan sido clérigos. Los casos enlistados ocurrirían después del año 2000 para que no hayan prescrito ante la justicia civil. Sin embargo, según Barret, hay casos que aún no han sido reportados.

AP solicitó una reacción a la Conferencia Episcopal chilena, pero de momento no ha recibido respuesta.

[Partial Google Translation: A US organization presented a website on Wednesday that includes a list of 78 Catholic religious in Chile who have been accused and / or convicted of sexually abusing minors.

Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of BishopAccountability.org, described the site at a press conference as “the largest public archive available, only comparable to the private archives of the Church.” Barrett Doyle also explained that the disclosure of the list is made only five days after the visit of Pope Francis to Chile with the hope that some of his advisers “make him see that he has not complied with his zero tolerance policy on this issue” .

The list includes priests, nuns and brothers and the data was collected from complaints, incidents disseminated by the media and judicial records. The criterion for incorporating the abusers was that according to the documents consulted, the alleged victims were minors and the alleged perpetrators were clerics. The cases listed would occur after the year 2000 so that they have not been prescribed before the civil courts. However, according to Barrett Doyle, there are cases that have not yet been reported.

AP requested a reaction to the Chilean Episcopal Conference, but for now has not received a response.]

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
Cooperativa

[With criticism of Ezzati, NGO published list of 80 religious accused of sexual abuse in Chile]

January 10, 2018

Destacando el rol del arzobispo Ricardo Ezzati en los casos de abuso sexual en la Iglesia Católica chilena, la organización internacional Bishop Accountability publicó una base con 80 sacerdotes, clérigos y una monja acusados de abuso sexual contra menores de edad en Chile.

Esta base de datos, que incluye casos desde el 2000, remarca que Ezzati es un líder incapaz de ponerle fin a los abusos y que, por el contrario, ha permitido que sacerdotes condenados vuelvan a sus funciones.

Respecto al arzobispo de Santiago, Anne Barrett-Doyle, fundadora de Bishop Accountability, manifestó que “su rol es clave (aunque) no puedo decir -porque no tengo toda la información- de que está activamente encubriendo los casos”.

“Lo que sí sabemos que está haciendo es que está devolviendo a sacerdotes acusados de abuso al ejercicio y eso es algo que va dejando una clara evidencia. Si en Estados Unidos esto ocurriera, sería un escándalo criminal de proporciones”, remarcó.

[Partial Google Translation: Highlighting the role of Archbishop Ricardo Ezzati in cases of sexual abuse in the Chilean Catholic Church, the international organization Bishop Accountability published a base with 80 priests, clerics and a nun accused of sexual abuse against minors in Chile.

This database, which includes cases since 2000, points out that Ezzati is a leader incapable of putting an end to abuses and, on the contrary, has allowed condemned priests to return to their functions.]

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
La Tercera

[Pope Francis sends strong signal about abuse of minors]

January 11, 2018

By A. Tapia and C. Mardones

El Vaticano anunció este miércoles la intervención del Sodalicio, un movimiento laico católico peruano que enfrenta una serie de denuncias de abusos.

En la recta final de la visita del Papa Francisco a Chile y Perú, el Vaticano dio este miércoles una contundente señal contra los abusos sexuales a menores en la Iglesia. En un mensaje que ha calado hondo en Perú, la Santa Sede comunicó que dispuso la intervención del grupo laico católico peruano Sodalicio de Vida Cristiana, cuyo fundador enfrenta denuncias por parte de la justicia limeña por una serie de casos de abusos contra menores.

El anuncio se conoció justo una semana antes del arribo del Pontífice a Perú (18 al 21 de enero) y a días de su llegada a Chile (15 al 18 de enero). El Sodalicio es una sociedad de vida apostólica que depende de la Congregación para los Institutos de Vida Consagrada y las Sociedades de Vida Apostólica del Vaticano. En su momento se convirtió en la primera sociedad de vida apostólica laica en ser reconocida por el derecho pontificio.

El Vaticano informó que el comisario apostólico será el obispo de Jericó (Colombia), Noel Antonio Londoño. Los principales cuestionamientos tienen que ver con el rol que tuvo al interior de la institución el fundador del Sodalicio, Luis Fernando Figari, de 70 años y quien actualmente vive confinado en Roma.

[Partial Google Translation: The scandal in Peru exploded thanks to the publication, in October 2015, of the book Half monks, half soldiers, of journalists Pedro Salinas and Paola Ugaz. This text, from the Planeta publishing house, gathers testimonies from 30 former Sodalicio members who denounced having been victims of physical, sexual and psychological abuse carried out by Figari and other leaders of the institution. “We started to investigate in December 2010 and now there are more than 500 cases,” Ugaz told La Tercera.

After the publication of the book, a success of sales in Peru, Sodalicio lamented “the actions and omissions committed by community members” and “we ask for forgiveness (to the victims) and we offer our willingness to listen and help.”

But Figari has never responded for what is incriminated. Already in the same 2015 the Vatican ordered an investigation on Sodalicio, that was in charge of the American cardinal Joseph Tobin. However, the intervention that was known today means, according to analysts, that the Holy See estimates that the movement has been unable to reform itself.]

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LIMA (PERU)
Sodalicio de Vida Cristiana

January 10, 2018

En referencia al nombramiento de un Comisario Apostólico para el Sodalicio comunicamos lo siguiente:

1) Este miércoles 10 de enero hemos recibido la noticia del nombramiento que la Santa Sede ha hecho de Mons. Noel Antonio Londoño Buitrago, C.Ss.R., Obispo de Jericó en el departamento de Antioquia (Colombia) como Comisario Apostólico de nuestra Sociedad.

2) Como Comisario Apostólico, Mons. Londoño podrá intervenir directamente en el gobierno de nuestra Sociedad, también en las cuestiones económicas y los demás asuntos de la marcha habitual del Sodalicio.

3) El Cardenal Joseph Tobin seguirá ejerciendo la función de Delegado ad nutum de la Congregación. Como hemos hecho hasta ahora con el Cardenal Joseph Tobin desde su nombramiento como Delegado para Sodalicio en mayo de 2016, colaboraremos en todo con Mons. Londoño para que pueda ejercer sus funciones según lo dispuesto por la Santa Sede.

4) Agradecemos al Papa Francisco y a la Congregación para los Institutos de Vida Consagrada y las Sociedades de Vida Apostólica que sigan con preocupación la vida de nuestra comunidad y reiteramos nuestra disposición para acoger todo lo que disponga para la mejor marcha de nuestra Sociedad. Reafirmamos una vez más nuestra absoluta obediencia al Santo Padre y a la Santa Madre Iglesia.

[Partial Google Translation: We thank Pope Francis and the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life for following the life of our community with concern and we reiterate our willingness to accept all that is available for the better progress of our Society. We reaffirm once again our absolute obedience to the Holy Father and the Holy Mother Church.]

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VATICAN CITY
Catholic News Agency via National Catholic Register

January 10, 2018

By Elise Harris

Colombian Bishop Noel Londoño Buitrago has been appointed papal commissioner for the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, while it deals with revelations that its founder was a serial abuser.

The Vatican announced Wednesday that Colombian Bishop Noel Londoño Buitrago has been appointed papal commissioner for the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, a Catholic society of apostolic life.

Bishop Londoño, of the Diocese of Jericó, will oversee the community as it continues a process of reform, following revelations that its founder, Luis Fernando Figari, committed serial acts of abuse while leading the community. Several former leaders of the community have also faced related allegations.

Bishop Londoño’s appointment was announced in a Jan. 10 communique from the Vatican, which stated that he would carry out his role alongside Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, who has served as papal delegate overseeing the SCV’s reform process since May 2016.

Cardinal Tobin will continue to be the group’s liaison with the Vatican’s Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and will focus primarily on reforming economic matters. In his role as Commissioner, Bishop Londoño will oversee the leadership of order as it continues to reform their governing policies and formation procedures.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
El Monstrador

[Pope Francis orders intervention in the Sodalicio de Vida Cristiana, the controlling institution of the Gabriela Mistral University in Santiago]

January 11, 2018

By Camila Bustamente

En diciembre, la persecutora María León Pizarro pidió nueve meses de prisión preventiva contra Luis Figari, investigado por los presuntos delitos de asociación ilícita para delinquir y lesiones graves, en relación con un caso de abusos sexuales.

A menos de una semana del viaje apostólico del Papa Francisco a Chile y Perú, el Vaticano ordenó intervenir el Sodalicio de Vida Cristiana (también conocido por su nombre en latín Sodalitium Christianae Vítae, SCV), luego de varios años de acusaciones de abuso sexual, maltrato físico y psicológico, contra su fundador, Luis Fernando Figari, y otros integrantes de la entidad religiosa.

Cabe recordar que en Chile dicha institución religiosa es dueña de la Universidad Gabriela Mistral, el Saint Joseph School en Huechuraba, una comunidad en el exclusivo sector de Los Trapenses y está a cargo de la Parroquia “Madre de los Apóstoles” en Maipú. Los sodalicios llegaron al país en 1999, invitados por el entonces arzobispo de Santiago, Francisco Javier Errázuriz.

La información se dio a conocer este miércoles 10 de enero, a través de un comunicado de la Oficina de Prensa del Vaticano. El decreto indica que la Congregación para los Institutos de Vida Consagrada y las Sociedades de Vida Apostólica, instancia formal de la que depende el SCV, nombró como comisario apostólico al obispo colombiano Noel Antonio Londoño Buitrago.

[Google Translation: Pope Francis orders to intervene the Sodalicio de Vida Cristiana, the controlling institution of the U. Gabriela Mistral

In December, the persecutor María León Pizarro requested nine months of preventive detention against Luis Figari, investigated for the alleged crimes of conspiracy to commit crimes and serious injuries, in relation to a case of sexual abuse.

Less than a week after Pope Francis’s apostolic trip to Chile and Peru, the Vatican ordered the intervention of the Sodality of Christian Life (also known by its Latin name Sodalitium Christianae Vítae, SCV), after several years of accusations of sexual abuse, physical and psychological abuse, against its founder, Luis Fernando Figari, and other members of the religious entity.

It is worth remembering that in Chile this religious institution owns the Gabriela Mistral University, the Saint Joseph School in Huechuraba, a community in the exclusive Los Trapenses sector and is in charge of the Parish “Mother of the Apostles” in Maipú. The sodalicios arrived in the country in 1999, invited by the then archbishop of Santiago, Francisco Javier Errázuriz.

The information was released on Wednesday, January 10, through a statement from the Vatican Press Office. The decree indicates that the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life, the formal instance on which the SCV depends, appointed as its apostolic commissioner the Colombian bishop Noel Antonio Londoño Buitrago.]

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VATICAN CITY
Vatican Press Office

January 10, 2018

La Congregación para los Institutos de Vida Consagrada y las Sociedades de Vida Apostólica ha promulgado hoy, miércoles 10 de enero de 2018, el Decreto en el que dispone el Comisariamento de la Sociedad de vida apostólica Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (Sodalicio de Vida Cristiana) y nombra Comisario Apostólico de la citada Sociedad a Su Excelencia Mons. Noel Antonio Londoño Buitrago, C.Ss.R., Obispo de Jericó (Antioquía), Colombia.

El Cardenal Joseph William Tobin, C.Ss.R., continuará siendo referente de la Congregación para los Institutos de Vida Consagrada y las Sociedades de Vida Apostólica en cuanto Delegado ad nutum en relación con Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, particularmente para las cuestiones de índole económica.

El Santo Padre Francisco ha seguido con preocupación todas las informaciones que, desde hace varios años, han ido llegando a la Congregación para los Institutos de Vida Consagrada y las Sociedades de Vida Apostólica sobre la situación del Sodalicio de Vida Cristiana. El Papa se ha mostrado especialmente atento a la notable gravedad de las informaciones acerca del régimen interno, la formación y la gestión económica-financiera, motivo por el cual ha pedido con insistencia al Dicasterio una particular atención. A esto se han sumado últimamente las graves medidas adoptadas por la autoridad judicial peruana con respecto al Sr. Luis Fernando Figari. Después de un profundo análisis de toda la documentación, el Dicasterio ha promulgado el Decreto de Comisariamento.

[Google Translation: Communiqué of the Press Office of the Holy See, 10.01.2018

The Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life has promulgated today, Wednesday, January 10, 2018, the Decree in which the Commissariat of the Society of Apostolic Life Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (Sodality of Christian Life) and appoints Apostolic Commissioner of the aforementioned Society to His Excellency Mons. Noel Antonio Londoño Buitrago, C.Ss.R., Bishop of Jericó (Antioquia), Colombia.

Cardinal Joseph William Tobin, C.Ss.R., will continue to be a reference of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life as Delegate ad nutum in relation to Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, particularly for economic issues .

The Holy Father Francis has followed with concern all the information that, for several years, has been reaching the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life on the situation of the Sodality of Christian Life. The Pope has been especially attentive to the remarkable seriousness of the information about the internal regime, training and economic-financial management, which is why he has insistently asked the Dicastery for particular attention. To this have been added recently the serious measures adopted by the Peruvian judicial authority with respect to Mr. Luis Fernando Figari. After a thorough analysis of all the documentation, the Dicastery has promulgated the Comisariamento Decree.]

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VATICAN CITY
Catholic News Service via The Pilot

January 10, 2017

By Cindy Wooden

Saying Pope Francis is following the situation with concern, the Vatican named a Colombian bishop to be the trustee of the scandal-plagued Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, a Catholic movement based in Peru.

The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life appointed Bishop Noel Londono Buitrago of Jerico, Colombia, trustee of the group, the Vatican press office announced Jan. 10.

Pope Francis, the statement said, “has followed with concern all the information that for years has arrived at the congregation” about the movement founded by Luis Fernando Figari. In 2017, Sodalitium leaders released a report acknowledging that Figari sexually, physically and psychologically abused minors, teen and young adult members of the movement.

Pope Francis “insistently requested” the congregation to act, the statement said, adding that he had been “particularly attentive to the gravity of the information regarding the (movement’s) internal regime, the formation” process members went through and the financial operations of the group.

Those concerns, along with a Peruvian court’s request that Figari be jailed pending a criminal investigation into allegations of sexual and psychological abuse, led to the congregation’s decision to name a trustee to assume control of the movement, the statement said. Figari apparently is living in Rome; in the first weeks of 2017, the Vatican informed Sodalitium leaders that Figari had been ordered to remain in Rome and not have any contact with the organization or give interviews to the media.

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VATICAN CITY
Reuters

January 10, 2018

By Philip Pullella

[Note: See also Report on Abuses and Response in the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, February 10, 2017).

Pope Francis has ordered the Vatican takeover of an elite Catholic society in Peru whose founder is accused of sexually and physically abusing children and former members of the group.

The move, announced by the Vatican on Wednesday, is the latest in a saga that has damaged the reputation of the Catholic Church in Peru and comes a week before Francis is set to make his first visit as pope to that country and Chile.

Victims of sexual abuse say he has not done enough to put a stop to it. The credibility of a commission he formed in 2014 has been severely damaged by the defections of senior members who accused the Vatican of dragging its feet.

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CARACAS (VENEZUELA)
El Universal

January 11, 2018

[Note: See also a recent report on SVC in English and Spanish.]

[Excerpt in corrected Google translation: The Vatican announced the intervention of the Catholic group in Peru

On the other hand, priests, deacons and a nun comprise a list of nearly 80 religious accused of sexually abusing minors in Chile since 2000, according to a database released Wednesday in Santiago by the American NGO Bishop Accountability.

One week before Pope Francis arrived in Peru, the Vatican announced on Wednesday that it will intervene in the Peruvian ultraconservative Catholic group Sodalicio de Vida Cristiana (SVC), whose leaders are accused of sexual abuse and of various kinds.]

Por otra parte, sacerdotes, diáconos y una monja completan una lista de casi 80 religiosos acusados de abusar sexualmente de menores en Chile desde el año 2000, según una base de datos difundida este miércoles en Santiago por la ONG estadounidense Bishop Accountability.

Vaticano/Lima. – A una semana de la llegada al Perú del papa Francisco, el Vaticano anunció el miércoles que intervendrá al grupo católico ultraconservador peruano Sodalicio de Vida Cristiana (SVC), a cuyos líderes se acusa de abusos sexuales y de diverso tipo.

“Francisco ha seguido con preocupación todas las informaciones que, desde hace varios años, han ido llegando sobre la situación”, afirma el comunicado mediante el cual el Vaticano anunció la intervención, que incluye la salida del actual jefe del SVC, Alessandro Morini, indicó DPA.

El académico peruano Wilfredo Ardito, experto en temas de la Iglesia, calificó el anuncio como “excelente noticia”, mientras que Paola Ugaz, coautora del libro que develó los secretos, afirmó que es “un buen día para las víctimas y el periodismo de investigación”.

El tema SVC es, en opinión de expertos, una piedra en el zapato para Francisco en la visita de cuatro días que hará al Perú, pues el Vaticano ha protegido al fundador del grupo, Luis Fernando Figari, en quien se concentran la mayoría de denuncias.

El periodista José Enrique Escardó, una de las víctimas que rompieron el silencio, no se mostró convencido con el anuncio: “(Francisco) hace la finta (teatro) para que nadie diga que no hizo nada”, señaló.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
El Ciudadano

January 10, 2018

[Excerpt in corrected Google translate: During the morning of this Wednesday, Anne Barrett-Doyle, an American who has been investigating cases of abuses in the Catholic Church with the organization BishopAccountability.org for 15 years, offered a powerful press conference in our country. In the Foundation for Trust – created by James Hamilton, Juan Carlos Cruz and José Andrés Murillo, three of the young people sexually abused by priest Fernando Karadima – she released the first detailed public file on sexual abuse imputed to the clergy in Chile .

Specifically, the document provides extensive summaries and hundreds of electronic sources that detail the cases of about 80 priests, deacons, religious brothers and a nun, accused of sexual abuse.

* * *

Anne Barrett-Doyle took the time to go over each of the most important cases of authorities of the local Catholic Church who have turned a deaf ear to the allegations of sexual abuse inside the institution.

It is in this context that, among others, Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati appeared. He said that he has allowed several religious accused of sexual abuse to return to work, as happened for example with Cristián Precht. “The investigation into Precht yielded at least 20 victims, between 15 and 35 years old, who had been abused by this priest, however, Cardinal Ezzati believes that after 5 years he can return to say Masses and be a priest,” the North American researcher observed.]

“El Papa debería remover a estas personas de sus cargos”, demandó Anne Barrett-Doyle, co-directora de BishopAccountability.org, organización que este miércoles dio a conocer un archivo con los nombres de cerca de 80 religiosos acusados de abuso sexual.]

Durante la mañana de este miércoles, Anne Barrett-Doyle, estadounidense que lleva 15 años investigado junto a la organización BishopAccountability.org casos de abusos en la Iglesia Católica, ofreció una potente conferencia en nuestro país. En la Fundación para la Confianza –creada por James Hamilton, Juan Carlos Cruz y José Andrés Murillo, tres de los jóvenes abusados sexualmente por el sacerdote Fernando Karadima-, dio a conocer el primer archivo público detallado sobre los abusos sexuales imputados al clero en Chile.

Específicamente, el documento proporciona resúmenes extensos y cientos de fuentes electrónicas que detallan los casos de cerca de 80 sacerdotes, diáconos, hermanos religiosos y una monja, acusados de abuso sexual. Todas denuncias reportadas a la autoridad “en periodos absolutamente razonables”, según apuntó Barrett-Doyle, y que “demuestran qué tantas cosas se mantienen ocultas, escondidas”.

Una lista que, postula la investigadora, es solo una fracción de la que debiera ser “si los obispos y las autoridades eclesiásticas chilenas estuvieran obligadas a reportar los delitos que ocurren dentro de la Iglesia”. Algo que se suma a la necesidad de que el sistema legal le dé más tiempo y espacio a las víctimas para construir casos civiles y criminales, y que los líderes de la institución religiosa sean investigados por fiscales y autoridades de Estado.

Junto a ello sumó -refiriéndose al rol del Vaticano- que “la falta de presión externa le ha permitido a la Iglesia Católica chilena operar en la impunidad”.

Ezzati y los obispos

Anne Barrett-Doyle se dio el tiempo de ir detallando cada uno de los casos más importantes de autoridades de la Iglesia Católica local que han hecho oídos sordos a las denuncias de abusos sexuales al interior de la institución.

Es en ese contexto que, entre otros, apareció el Cardenal Ricardo Ezzati. Sobre él señaló que ha permitido que varios religiosos acusados de abuso sexual vuelvan a ejercer su labor, como lo ocurrido por ejemplo con Cristián Precht. “La investigación sobre Precht arrojó al menos 20 víctimas, entre 15 y 35 años, que habían sido abusados por este sacerdote, sin embargo, el Cardenal Ezzati opina que luego de 5 años puede volver a practicar misas y ser sacerdote”, criticó la investigadora norteamericana.

“Ezzati es el hombre más poderoso dentro de la Iglesia Católica chilena. Si él como líder no le da importancia a lo de ‘cero tolerancia’, ¿qué podemos esperar para los otros dentro de la Iglesia chilena?”, cuestionó Barrett-Doyle.

En ese mismo contexto, Anne relató que cuando realizaban la investigación que dieron a conocer esta jornada, estaban “atónitos” con el comportamiento de los obispos chilenos. “Tratan bien a los abusadores, pero son muy duros con las víctimas”, sostuvo. Junto a ello, señaló que éstos “se muestran muy orgullosos de su protocolo contra el abuso publicado en 2015, pero sus omisiones son notables: no hace mención a ‘cero tolerancia’ en ninguna parte”, así como tampoco -agregó- se habla de reparación, a diferencia de lo que ocurre en países como Estados Unidos.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
Reuters

January 10, 2018

By Dave Sherwood

Chileans protesting Pope Francis’s 2015 appointment of a Roman Catholic bishop accused of protecting an alleged pedophile threaten to cast a shadow over the pontiff’s visit to South America next week.

Parishioners in Osorno, a small city 800 kilometers (497 miles) south of the Chilean capital, say Vatican representatives denied their requests to meet with Francis. They plan to protest every day of the Pope’s Jan. 15 – 18 stay in Chile.

Pope Francis, who hails from neighboring Argentina and once briefly lived in Chile, has defended Osorno Bishop Juan Barros and says allegations that he covered up abuses by one of Chile’s most notorious sexual predators were unfounded.

Planned demonstrations in Chile, a staunchly Catholic country, have rekindled accusations Francis has not done enough to root out sexual abuse in the Church, especially holding bishops accountable for covering up or mishandling sexual abuse.

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CONCEPCIÓN (CHILE)
Bio Bio Chile

January 10, 2018

By Guido Focacci and Aristeo Andrés

Con el objetivo de llamar al papa Francisco a cumplir su compromiso de “tolerancia cero” en casos de abuso sexual en acciones concretas contra sus autores, la agrupación Bishop Accountability lanzó un sitio con 80 religiosos chilenos involucrados, acusando especialmente al cardenal Ricardo Ezzati de encubrimiento.

La agrupación, liderada por Anne Barrett-Doyle, indicó que este encubrimiento en ninguna parte del mundo es tan potente como en Chile y apuntó a Ezzati, como principal autoridad católica del país, a tomar medidas en estos casos.

La investigadora recalcó los casos de los rel//rbb.cl/j16f Publicado por igiosos Christian Precht, Julio Dutilh y Juan Barros como hechos visibles, donde se ha permitido continuar con el sacerdocio pese a ser denunciados y hasta condenados por El Vaticano.

El director ejecutivo de la Fundación para la Confianza, José Murillo, aseguró que este mensaje de la agrupación es para que el Papa cumpla con su compromiso de tolerancia cero para no tener casos impunes.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
Agence France Presse via 24 Horas

January 10, 2018

El sitio reveló que casi ochenta sacerdotes, diáconos y una monja de nacionalidad chilena abusaron de menores de edad.

Sacerdotes, diáconos y una monja chilenos completan una lista de casi ochenta religiosos acusados desde el año 2000 de abusar sexualmente de menores en Chile, según una base de datos difundida este miércoles en Santiago por la ONG estadounidense Bishop Accountability.

“Hoy estamos presentando una base de datos de casi 80 clérigos en Chile, sacerdotes, monjes y una monja que han sido acusados de abusar sexualmente de niños”, denunció Ann Barrett-Doyle, codirectora de la ONG que desde 2003 se dedica a publicar los archivos de abusadores dentro de la Iglesia católica, en una rueda de prensa en Santiago.

A cinco días de la llegada del papa Francisco a Chile, la organización denunció la falta de compromiso de los jerarcas católicos, en especial los chilenos, para erradicar la pederastia en la iglesia.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
El Dínamo

January 10, 2018

La organización Bishop Accountability, radicada en Estados Unidos, se encarga de proporcionar información a través de Internet acerca de los distintos casos de sacerdotes acusados y condenados por abuso sexual, así como también a religiosos que han actuado como encubridores del delito.

A menos de una semana de la llegada del Papa a Chile, la entidad lanzó en su sitio información sobre los casos chilenos. En total se registraron 70, que agrupa a sacerdotes, diáconos, hermanos religiosos y una monja. Cada nombre está acompañado de un resumen junto con información al lugar que pertenecen y enlaces de noticias al respecto.

Anne Barrett-Doyle, representante de Bishop Accountability, señaló que este lanzamiento se hizo previo a la visita de Francisco I “con la esperanza de que alguno de sus asistentes le haga ver que no ha cumplido con su promesa de tolerancia cero”.

La organización busca que el Papa remueva al cardenal Ricardo Ezatti y a otros obispos que -según acusa Bishop Accountability- habrían encubiertos otros casos como Horacio Valenzuela (Talca) y Cristian Contreras (San Felipe). “El Papa dice que llora por las víctimas. Queremos que transforme las lágrimas en acciones”, indicó.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
La Nacion

January 10, 2018

By Giselle Saure

La nómina que incluye identidades, cargos, fotografías y la descripción de los actos cometidos contra sus víctimas fue elaborada por la organización internacional que se dedica a indagar este tema Bishop Accountability.

Fernando Karadima, Andrés Aguirre alias el cura “Tato”, Cristián Precht y John O´Reilly, son los rostros más conocidos en la lista de 78 religiosos que aparecen en el listado de miembros de la iglesia católica chilena denunciados por abusos sexuales en los últimos 15 años desde que se destaparon estos delitos y que han mermado el respeto y la credibilidad en la institución en el país.

La nómina elaborada por el grupo internacional Bishop Accountability, con sede en Estados Unidos, que se dedica a investigar estos delitos cometidos por integrantes de la iglesia católica, es el primer banco de datos donde aparecen con fotografías, nombres y congregaciones de los miembros de la institución que han sido denunciados por estos casos, incluidos cuatro obispos.

Este nuevo recurso electrónico fue presentado por Anne Barrett-Doyle, investigadora católica y fundadora de la entidad que fue clave para las indagatorias realizadas por el Boston Globe, sobre abusos sexuales en esa ciudad de Estados Unidos.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
La Tercera

January 10, 2018

By Claudia Soto

Anne Barrett-Doyle, representante del grupo internacional Bishop Accountability, aseguró que sería un “gran gesto” del Papa Francisco que removiera al arzobispo de Santiago y a otros obispos como Cristián Contreras Molina y Horacio Valenzuela, por no haber intervenido adecuadamente en estos casos. En cuanto al Pontífice, señaló que “no ha cumplido con su promesa de tolerancia cero” contra los abusos.

La investigadora Anne Barrett-Doyle, mostrando una fotografía del cardenal Ezzati.
El grupo Bishop Accountability, con sede en Estados Unidos y representado por Anne Barrett-Doyle, lanzó este miércoles el primer banco de datos publicado en Internet sobre los clérigos chilenos que han sido denunciados por abuso sexual de menores. Este nuevo recurso electrónico proporciona detalles de los casos de 79 sacerdotes, diáconos, hermanos religiosos y una monja en nuestro país, que han sido condenados por la justicia. Sin embargo, se indica que de acuerdo a lo estudiado, deben hacer cientos de casos que aún se mantienen ocultos.

Barrett-Doyle explicó que este lanzamiento se hizo previo a la visita del Papa Francisco “con la esperanza de que alguno de sus asistentes le haga ver que no ha cumplido con su promesa de tolerancia cero” contra los abusos.

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SANTIAGO (CHILE)
La Tercera

January 9, 2017

By Sebastián Labrín and Juan Pablo Sallaberry

[Note: Includes a table of accused, including priests accused of sexual misconduct with adults. See also BishopAccountability.org’s database, focused on clerics who are accused of offending against minors.]

En los últimos 15 años, desde el caso de Andrés Aguirre, el “cura Tato”, 80 sacerdotes y religiosos católicos han sido acusados de delitos de connotación sexual. De ese total, 45 fueron condenados por la justicia civil o canónica, y de ellos, 34 tienen como víctimas a menores de edad. La situación más reciente involucra a la congregación marista.

La investigación sobre abusos cometidos por miembros de la Congregación de los Hermanos Maristas en colegios chilenos sigue en escalada, luego de que ayer el diario catalán El Periódico llevara en su portada un reportaje sobre cómo la orden religiosa silenciaba las denuncias.

La Fiscalía Sur maneja antecedentes sobre los presuntos delitos sexuales cometidos por seis maristas -dos de ellos ya fallecidos-, investigación que se inició a partir de una denuncia contra Abel Pérez Ruiz, acusado de abusar de 14 menores, 10 del Instituto Alonso de Ercilla y otros cuatro del Colegio Marcelino Champagnat, en La Pintana.

¿Cuántos sacerdotes y religiosos católicos están vinculados a casos de abusos sexuales en Chile? La nómina es mantenida en privado por la Iglesia. El 2011, tras las denuncias de abusos sexuales contra el sacerdote Fernando Karadima, el episcopado decidió subir a su página web un listado con los condenados por este tipo de delitos, que entonces llegaba a 18 presbíteros sancionados por la justicia civil o la canónica. Sin embargo, el 2016 se retiró la lista de nombres cuando los casos sumaban 32.

La ONG norteamericana Bishop Accountability, entidad que recopila casos de abusos sexuales cometidos por sacerdotes en todo el mundo, ha estado trabajando en un listado de religiosos chilenos que han enfrentado denuncias de este tipo. Anne Barrett Doyle, directora de la organización, presentará el documento en una conferencia de prensa este miércoles.

Una investigación de La Tercera compiló toda la información oficial publicada por la Iglesia sobre denuncias presentadas desde 2002 (año en que se destapó el caso de Andrés Aguirre, el “cura Tato”); hizo una completa revisión de los archivos de prensa; consultó al Ministerio Público sobre el estado de las causas, y examinó medios regionales a lo largo de todo Chile para incluir casos locales que jamás fueron conocidos en Santiago.

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AUSTRALIA
Australian Associated Press

January 10, 2018

Cardinal’s lawyers tell court hard drive containing footage and transcripts was handed over in response to subpoena

Cardinal George Pell’s lawyers will examine interview footage from the ABC as Australia’s highest-ranking Catholic fights multiple historical sex offence charges in Victoria.

Pell, who denies the allegations, is the most senior Catholic cleric to be charged with sex offences.

His lawyers returned to Melbourne magistrates court on Wednesday for an administrative update about the subpoenas they sent to the ABC and investigative journalist Louise Milligan, who wrote the book Cardinal: The Rise and Fall of George Pell.

In December the ABC and Milligan agreed to hand over some of the material sought by Pell’s lawyers.

“There’s been production to the registry of a hard drive containing footage and transcripts,” defence barrister Ruth Shann told the court on Wednesday.

It is understood the footage contains unedited interviews between Milligan and some of the complainants who have accused Pell of historical sex offences.

Pell was not required to attend court on Wednesday.

The former Sydney and Melbourne archbishop and Ballarat priest has taken leave from his position as Vatican treasurer to defend himself.

He will face a four-week pretrial committal hearing in March to determine if he should stand trial.

Some of the hearing will be closed to the public when the complainants give evidence about the alleged sexual offences.

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HAGATNA (GUAM)
Associated Press

January 9, 2018

HAGATNA, Guam – Catholic church officials in Guam say they have notified the Vatican of a new sexual abuse allegation against Archbishop Anthony Apuron.

According to the Archdiocese of Agana, a relative of Apuron claimed to local media he was abused by the archbishop in 1990.

Apuron already faces multiple allegations of sexual abuse of altar boys in the 1970s.

He has denied those claims and has not been criminally charged. His lawyer Jacqueline Terlaje didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

The allegations against Apuron prompted a Vatican tribunal. Archbishop Michael Byrnes says he was informed by Vatican officials late last year that a verdict has been reached, but it has not yet been released.

The Vatican sent Byrnes to Guam to replace Apuron on an administrative basis.

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VATICAN CITY
Tampa Bay Times

January 10, 2018

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican on Wednesday took over a Peru-based Catholic movement whose founder was accused of sexual and psychological abuse, just days before Pope Francis starts a trip to Chile and Peru where the sexual abuse scandal is expected to play out on the sidelines.

A Vatican statement said the congregation for religious orders had issued a decree naming a commissioner to take over the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, a conservative movement that has some 20,000 members and chapters throughout South America and the U.S.

The move came just weeks after Peruvian prosecutors announced they were seeking the arrest of Sodalitium’s founder, Luis Figari.

A journalist and former member of the society began publicly accusing Figari of abuse in 2010. While Figari had never been charged, many of the allegations were confirmed by a Vatican inquiry. Figari was ordered to cut contact with members of the society last year, and has been living in Rome.

He has never provided concrete responses to the accusations. His Peru-based lawyer, Armando Lengua, has said he hasn’t been in contact with Figari, saying he is unreachable in the Sodalitium prayer and retreat house in Rome.

Some of Sodalitium’s victims had denounced the Vatican’s handling of the case, saying in 2017 that the six-year delay in taking any action, and subsequently allowing Figari to live in retirement in Rome, was anything but satisfactory.

In the statement, the Vatican said Francis had followed the Sodalitium saga for years, had asked that the congregation pay particular attention to it and was “particularly concerned about the seriousness of information about the internal regime, the training and financial management.”

The Vatican said the congregation had decided on the “commissioning” of the society after the recent moves by Peruvian prosecutors to arrest Figari and a “profound analysis of all the documentation.”

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VATICAN CITY
Associated Press

January 10, 2018

– Peruvian founder of Sodalitium Christianae Vitae accused of sexual abuse
– Victims denounce Vatican’s handling and protests likely during pontiff’s visit

The Vatican has taken over a Peru-based Catholic movement whose founder was accused of sexual and psychological abuse, just days before Pope Francis starts a trip to Chile and Peru where the sexual abuse scandal is expected to play out on the sidelines.

A Vatican statement said the congregation for religious orders had issued a decree naming a commissioner to take over the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, a conservative movement that has chapters and about 20,000 members throughout South America and the US.

The move came just weeks after Peruvian prosecutors announced they were seeking the arrest of Sodalitium’s founder, Luis Figari.

While Figari had never been charged, many of the allegations were confirmed by a Vatican inquiry. He was ordered to cut contact with members of the society, and has been living in Rome.

In the statement, the Vatican said Francis had followed the Sodalitium scandal for years, had asked that the congregation pay particular attention to it and was “particularly concerned about the seriousness of information about the internal regime, the training and financial management.”

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UNITED STATES
The Huffington Post

January 9, 2018

By Alanna Vagianos

Nichols wrote in a statement that she was the first to alert USA Gymnastics of Nassar’s abuse in 2015.

Gymnast Maggie Nichols alleged Tuesday that she was among the young women sexually abused by former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar.

In a statement released by Nichols’ attorney, the former elite gymnast alleged that Nassar sexually abused her “numerous times,” starting when she was 15 years old.

“Recently, three of my friends and former National Team members who medaled at the 2012 Olympics have bravely stepped forward to proclaim they were sexually assaulted by USA Gymnastics Team physician Dr. Larry Nassar,” Nichols said in the statement, obtained by Time magazine. “Today I join them.”

Nichols said she was the first victim to alert USA Gymnastics of Nassar’s abuse in 2015, which subsequently led to his arrest in 2016. She wrote that she was discussing Nassar’s treatment with a teammate during practice one day when a coach overheard.

“I had never told my coach about these treatments,” Nichols said. “After hearing our conversation she asked me more questions about it and said it doesn’t seem right … so she did the right thing and reported this abuse to the USA Gymnastics staff.”

Nassar has been accused of serial sexual abuse by over 125 young women, including elite gymnasts Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas and McKayla Maroney. All of the victims claim that Nassar abused them during routine medical exams; some say they were as young as 12 at the time of the alleged abuse.

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MASCOUTAH (IL)
KMOV

January 8, 2018

An associate Catholic priest from a church in Mascoutah, Illinois is facing multiple charges of possessing and disseminating child pornography.

Belleville police arrested Rev. Gerald Hechenberger, the associate pastor at Holy Childhood Church and School, Monday after reportedly finding him in possession of multiple pornographic images and videos of children under the age of 13.

The officers were turned onto the 54-year-old Hechenberger from an anonymous tip from the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force indicating he was distributing child pornography.

Detectives surveilled Hechenberger online and in person and were eventually granted a warrant to search the rectory at Holy Childhood Catholic Church Monday.

Officers reportedly found drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine along with the images and videos of children.

“There is a rotten apple in every bunch and that should not discredit the church of anyone else because of one person making a mistake,” said Andrea Sisson, a lifelong Mascoutah resident. “It doesn’t deter me from knowing anyone from there or them doing good in the community. Like I said, one man can’t ruin or bring a community down.”

Hechenberger faces eight counts of disseminating child pornography in which the victim is less than 13 years old, seven counts of possession of child pornography, one count of possessing child pornography on video and one count of possessing methamphetamine.

He had been at the parish for six years. Previously, he had let it be known he was suffering from depression. At this time there are no known complaints lodged against him in the past. None of the attendees at Tuesday night’s service agreed to speak about the situation.

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UNITED STATES
Associated Press

January 9, 2018

When stories of sexual misconduct by powerful men began to fill the news during the fall, Manny Vega immediately flashed back to his childhood.

He saw strong similarities between the recent allegations against producers and politicians and his own abuse as a child by his parish priest.

“The parallels are in the power dynamics,” said Vega, a former police officer and decorated Marine who lives in Oxnard, California. “Whether you’re the leader of a church or the leader of a film studio, you’re going to be someone people look up to and someone people go to for guidance. It puts the victim at a horrible disadvantage.”

While there are key differences, the sexual harassment detailed in today’s headlines shares the same well-worn themes that made it so hard for Vega and hundreds of other clergy abuse victims to come forward more than a decade ago: fear of retribution and disbelief, impossible power dynamics and confidential settlements that bury complaints.

Powerful Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein is under investigation for sexual assault in four cities, and has been accused of everything from unwanted come-ons to groping by dozens of women, including A-list actresses. He has apologized for his behavior with women but denied having nonconsensual sex. He has not been charged with a crime.

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SCOTLAND
The Evening Express

January 10, 2018

Denying the “orchestrated” abuse which took place in child care homes across Scotland should be a crime, an inquiry has heard.

A former resident of Smyllum Park in Lanark made the claim before the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry in Edinburgh on Tuesday.

He described his time at the orphanage as a “Holocaust of developmental trauma” and said Scotland has to “face up” to its past.

The witness, who lived in the Catholic-run home between 1961 and 1965, said his head had been left “spinning” after reading an article suggesting abuse claims about such places were exaggerated.

He added: “What was happening there was a crime against humanity. It was orchestrated.

“It went on for years. I think it was a Holocaust of developmental trauma, inflicted upon thousands of children over decades.

“In Germany it’s a crime to deny the Holocaust and I would like it to be a crime for academics to deny these years and years of abuse.

“Scotland has to face up to this – if you don’t know your own country’s history, you don’t know anything.”

Now in his sixties, he said he still has a recurring nightmare about his time there and wakes up screaming.

According to him, the nuns were “quick to aggression” and “quick to anger”, describing constant physical and mental abuse.

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UNITED STATES
Gizmodo

January 10, 2018

By Jennings Brown

The founders of MormonLeaks, a transparency organization that has released hundreds of controversial documents related to inner-workings of the Mormon Church, recently launched FaithLeaks, an ambitious and far-reaching project that aims to expose corruption and abuse across other religious organizations. Today, the new group has published dozens of pages of documents related to sexual assault allegations within the Jehovah’s Witness Church, documents which are presumably part of a database that church officials have refused to relinquish in an unrelated sexual molestation trial, resulting in a one and a half year legal battle and millions of dollars in fines.

The 69 pages of documents detail how Jehovah’s Witnesses authorities and church officials handled allegations of repeated sexual assault by one of its local leaders. The interviews and detailed notes compiled by church authorities about molestation and rape allegations are horrific. The 33 documents also provide a staggering play-by-play of how the Watchtower Tract and Bible Society—the parent corporation and governing body for the Jehovah’s Witnesses, often simply referred to as “the Watchtower”—handled the case internally over the course of nearly a decade—playing therapist, prosecutor, jury, and judge—and the lengths to which they went to keep these accusations away from the “worldly court of law.”

The documents show that in 1999, a committee of Jehovah’s Witnesses elders found allegations from two women that their father had sexually abused them to be credible, yet held off on forming an internal judicial committee to take their own form of judicial action against the alleged abuser because one of the daughters was not willing to face the father and formally make the accusations against him, as judicial committee policy requires. Once she went through with the process years later, a spiritually guided trial was held and he was disfellowshipped. However, a year later he was reinstated. The documents show that Jehovah’s Witnesses leaders cast shade on one accuser and her husband for trying to take this matter to secular law enforcement.

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