Cardinal-designate Víctor Manuel Fernández, the new prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, told the Associated Press on July 9 that he “did not act in the best way” in addressing abuse allegations against a diocesan priest in 2019—even as the prelate sought to offer excuses for his decisions.

In July 2019, Archbishop Fernández learned of two new abuse allegations against Father Eduardo Lorenzo, a parish priest and prison chaplain who had been previously investigated for an abuse allegation. Archbishop Fernández permitted Father Lorenzo to remain as pastor of his parish until November 2019, when the priest took a leave of absence, according to a timeline of the case published by BishopAccountability.org, which hosts the largest public collection of information on the clergy abuse crisis. In December 2019, Father Lorenzo committed suicide.

“With everything I say it is clear that I did not act in the best way,” Archbishop Fernández…