Top Chilean priest held over allegations of child abuse

DUBLIN (IRELAND)
RTÉ

July 13, 2018

Prominent Chilean Catholic priest, Oscar Munoz, who held senior positions in the archdiocese of Santiago, has been detained over allegations that he sexually abused seven children.

The alleged abuse by Fr Munoz, 56, took place from 2002 in the capital Santiago and the southern city of Rancagua, prosecutor Emiliano Arias said.

Fr Munoz was vice-chancellor and then chancellor in the archdiocese of Santiago from 2011, before he was removed two months ago after admitting in January, days before Pope Francis’ visit to Chile, that he had abused a minor.

He was initially investigated by the Chilean church, which then referred the case to the Vatican.

The abuse was uncovered by Chilean prosecutors when the church’s case file was seized during a June operation.

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