Nuncio to Mexico Says Abuse Cases Previously ‘

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Nuncio to Mexico says abuse cases previously ‘covered up’ MEXICO CITY (CNS) — Mexican Church officials previously “covered up” cases of clerical sexual abuse, a situation the Vatican ambassador to Mexico said has changed as Catholic leaders increasingly follow a zero-tolerance policy promoted by Pope Francis. Archbishop Franco Coppola, apostolic nuncio, told the Spanish news agency EFE that 271 cases of alleged sexual abuse committed by clergy have been investigated over the past decade. Of those cases, 103 priests have been removed from their positions, 45 priests have been suspended and 123 cases are still open. “I seriously think there were people who covered up (cases) with bad intentions,” Archbishop Coppola told EFE on May 19. “I want to think there were also people who covered up (cases) without realizing the seriousness of it.” An official with the apostolic nuncio’s office in Mexico City told Catholic News Service the comments published by EFE were correct. The nuncio’s comments offered a candid acknowledgment of the crimes of clerical abuse committed against children in Mexico — long downplayed as a problem by the bishops’ conference or seen as a problem of “Anglo” dioceses. Accusations of covering up the crimes committed by priests also have been common — with complaints of inaction or cover- up in cases implicating the most senior prelates. The Mexican Church’s inaction on the crimes of Father Marcial Maciel Degollado, founder of the Legionaries of Christ — who died disgraced after having been ordered to lead a life of prayer and penance — caused scandal as he wielded enormous influence among the country’s Catholic and business elite. Archbishop Coppola arrived in Mexico in late 2016 and said he found a “situation of abuse” in the country. Many Mexican dioceses now have commissions to protect minors, and training has been ongoing. “It’s a terrible tragedy of which we may not have been aware,” he said. “Every time that I meet with victims, I realize how true it is what Pope Francis said, that (the abuse) is a psychological murder.” Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta, adjunct secretary of the doctrinal congregation and the Vatican’s top abuse investigator, and Spanish Father Jordi Bertomeu Farnos were scheduled to visit Mexico in March 2020 to provide assistance to the Mexican bishops’ conference in handling abuse cases. That visit was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Archbishop Coppola said it would be rescheduled once the pandemic is over..

Copy Link

Recommended publications

Maltese Community Celebrates 50Th Anniversary of Malta's Independence
Maltese Community Council of Victoria, Inc. 477 Royal Parade | Parkville Victoria 3052 | Australia Phone: (03) 9387 8922 Fax: (03) 9387 8309 MCCV News Email: [email protected] Website: www.mccv.org.au No. 127 • Sept-Nov 2014 • www.mccv.org.au Editor: Dr Edwin Borg-Manché Maltese community celebrates 50th In this issue Anniversary of Malta’s Independence • President’s Column: Reflec- 2 tions by a departing President • From the MCCV Council 3 • MCCV AGM 2014 • Council for Maltese Living 4 Abroad meets in Malta • Roadmap for Maltese Diaspo- 5 ra-Government cooperation • Presentation of MCCV 6 Community Awards 2014 • ANZAC DAY 2015 in Malta 9 Malta’s Gallipoli Connection On Sunday 21 September the Maltese independence became stronger. Following community in Melbourne celebrated the the closure of the Suez canal in 1957, the • Australian Plant Collection 10 50th Anniversary of Malta’s Independence British government announced that it established at Argotti Gardens at a reception held at the Maltese Centre in would downsize their military presence Parkville. Special guests at the reception around the globe, including Malta. • Tonio Borg rules out 11 Parliament, but not politics included the Consul General for Malta in Mr Grech said that the granting of Victoria, Mr Victor Grech; representing independence to Malta on 21 September • Karmenu Vella resigns from the Premier of Victoria and Co-Chair of 1964 marked the ending of thousands of parliament to become EU the Victorian parliamentary ‘Friends of years of foreign rule. “Therefore today Commissioner
[Show full text]
Sisters Leaving El Cerrito After 63 Years
VOL. 57, NO. 6 DIOCESE OF OAKLAND MARCH 18, 2019 www.catholicvoiceoakland.org Serving the East Bay Catholic Community since 1963 Copyright 2019 Sisters leaving El Cerrito after 63 years By Michele Jurich Staff writer Sisters of Mercy Father Michael Ryan faced quite a dilemma: He had built a brand-new school Celebration! at St John the Baptist Parish in El Cerrito When: June 15 but he had no Sisters to run it In 1955, this was a big problem No Where: St John the Baptist Church Sisters, no school 11150 San Pablo Ave , El Cerrito No nearby order could take on another Reception follows in School Gym school Resourceful Father Ryan wrote to every convent in the Catholic directory in Ireland, asking if they could send Sisters their children, but from the Sisters at His mailbox sat empty in reply nearby St Jerome School Mother Gertrude, of the Sisters of Just about 63 years after the Irish Mercy convent in Carrick on Suir, Ireland, Sisters saved the day and opened a school sent her reply to him at the Archdiocese that is thriving just a few steps from their of San Francisco’s schools department convent door, the last three Sisters are She was very sorry, she wrote, but she preparing to go home didn’t have anybody It’s their choice They always knew they In that summer of 1956, Father Ryan would go back to Ireland It’s home was visiting Ireland He paid a personal While Catholic education may have their call on Carrick on Suir, in County Tipperary primary ministry, their work has embraced After that, six Sisters of Mercy were dis- the needs not
[Show full text]
All Eyes on Borg Olivier Auction 27 June 2010
THE SUNDAY TIMES I June 27, 2010 National 5 AlleyesonBorg Olivier auction Ariadne Massa Mr Said added he was pleased going as far as to ask if they were so that the auctioneers, Obelisk cash-strapped that they had no Auctions, had yesterday clearly choice but to sell this national Hawk-eyed specialists from Her- identified between the belongings heritage. itage Malta will be observing of the late Dr Borg Olivier and his However, when contacted, Peter today’s auction of former Prime wife, Alexandra née Mattei, from Borg Olivier, one of four heirs, took Minister George Borg Olivier’s other items in the auction. offence to such comments and belongings and buying items con- News that some 300 items owned said this had been a very hard deci- sidered to be of national interest. by Dr Borg Olivier, revered for lead- sion for all of them. “We will be looking at value not ing Malta to its independence from “When a family loses both par- price. We’ll go for anything we the British in 1964, were going under ents decisions have to be taken. We believe enhances the national the hammer sparked a debate on are not doing this because we’re collection,” said Heritage Malta timesofmalta.com with many ques- cash-strapped. We chose to keep chairman Joe Said. tioning why the historical figure’s what is very dear to us and auction While refusing to disclose what belongings were not being the rest,” he said, adding that sev- had caught the eye of the heritage bequeathed to the state.
[Show full text]
NEWSLETTER 288 October 2019
MALTESE E-NEWSLETTER 288 October 2019 1 MALTESE E-NEWSLETTER 288 October 2019 WITH OUR ELECTRONIC JOURNAL WE KEEP OUR READERS UPDATED. READ IT AND YOU WILL NOT MISS A THING 2 MALTESE E-NEWSLETTER 288 October 2019 Cr Danny Said elected as new Mayor Labor Councillor Danny Said and Greens Councillor Philipa Veitch were tonight, Tuesday 24 September 2019, elected Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Randwick City. Mayor Danny Said welcomed the position, and the Mayoral chains, by saying he would work hard for the residents of Randwick City. “It is an incredible privilege to be given the opportunity to serve the people of Randwick as Mayor for the coming 12 months,” said Mayor Said. “I promise that I will do the best for Randwick and will ensure that Council continues to place our people at the forefront of all decision-making. “We’re facing some significant challenges over the next 12 months that we will need to address as Council, including the proposal to build a cruise ship terminal in Yarra Bay.” Mayor Said is of Maltese descent and has lived in Randwick City for most of his life. He attended St Agnes Catholic Primary School in Matraville and Marist Brothers Pagewood (now known as Champagnat Catholic College), is a member of South Sydney Rabbitohs, a strong supporter of local surf clubs and has been a soccer coach. Crs Danny Said and Philipa Veitch were elected to Randwick City Council in 2017. In 2018, Cr Said was voted as Deputy MayorGozo to get new bishop after 3 MALTESE E-NEWSLETTER 288 October 2019 Pope Francis appoints Mgr Mario Grech to top church role Gozo Bishop Mario Grech has been appointed by Pope Francis to serve as secretary general of the synod of bishops, one of the highest pastoral organs of the Catholic church by Kurt Sansone Gozo will be getting a new bishop shortly after incumbent Mario Grech was appointed secretary general of the synod of bishops by Pope Francis.
[Show full text]
Clerical Pedophilia by Mexicans in Mexico and Other Countries 1944-2013
Clerical Pedophilia by Mexicans in Mexico and Other Countries 1944-2013 Report by CSOs and Mexican Nationals to the Committee on the Rights of the Child _______________________________________________ December 2013 Executive Summary Importance of the Shadow Report for the Committee on the Rights of the Child. We regard the Holy See’s appearance before the Committee on the Rights of the Child as an historic opportunity to ensure that organizations such as those in the Holy See -State - Vatican - Catholic Church - which claim their superiority and privileges over local and even international authorities and do not accept any kind of formal responsibility, as a signatory state of the Convention and the subsequent Treaties, should be addressed as being responsible for thousands of cases of sexual abuse committed in many parts of the world, for many years, due precisely to their structural behavior of protection and the complicit cover-up of abusers. They should therefore be held accountable for the violation of articles in the Convention because of their contempt and systematic violation of the rights and higher interest of girls and their preference for covering-up perpetrators rather than protecting and safeguarding victims. This institutional behavior which involved all the levels of authority of the Organization, should be regarded as a STATE CRIME by the Committee on the Rights of the Child. This will help, first and foremost, to restore the dignity and fundamental rights to victims and even enable the organization represented by the Holy See and its authorities, national authorities and all of humanity, to ensure that this type of behavior will never again be repeated in our history, by arguing and claiming to have a superior divine origin to the authorities tasked with safeguarding the rights of the world’s children.
[Show full text]
DEFENDER of the FAITH Worldpremiere at DOK.Fest Munich 2019
DEFENDER OF THE FAITH Worldpremiere at DOK.fest Munich 2019 A documentary by Christoph Röhl Theatrical Release Germany: 31th OCTOBER 2019 PRESS KIT TECHNICAL DETAILS Original Title: DEFENDER OF THE FAITH Format: 1:1.85 Country of Production: Germany Sound: 5.1 Year of Production: 2019 Languages: EnglisH, German, SpanisH, Italian, FrencH Genre: Documentary Subtitles: EnglisH, German LengtH: 90 min Press Kit – DEFENDER OF THE FAITH LOGLINE DEFENDER OF THE FAITH tells tHe story of a man wHo Has dedicated His life "Although I am not a believer, I have always been fascinated by the to preserving tHe CHurcH but instead led it into its greatest crisis: Joseph extraordinary appeal of the worldwide Catholic Church. Many think that Ratzinger, tHe German Pope Benedict XVI. THe documentary analyses tHe Ratzinger's resignation drew a line under the manifold problems and crises of ideological, cultural and organizational failings of an institution tHat claims the institutional church. I see this differently because the crises that appeared to proclaim the absolute truth as it struggles to come to terms with modern during Benedict's pontificate had systemic origins – and continue to exist democratic society that Has accepted diversity and pluralism as fundamental today. Ratzinger's departure has a symbolic meaning that goes far beyond his rigHts. own person and raises essential questions about the abuse of power in all undemocratic, authoritarian and patriarchal systems.“ SYNOPSIS Christoph Röhl DEFENDER OF THE FAITH tells tHe story of a man wHo Has dedicated His life to preserving the CHurcH but instead led it into its greatest crisis: JosepH Ratzinger, tHe German Pope Benedict XVI.
[Show full text]
Against Abuse, at the End of Historic Summit
Pope calls for ‘all-out battle’ against abuse, at the end of historic summit The clerical sexual abuse crisis has caused “serious scandal” in the Catholic Church and in society “because of the dramatic suffering of the victims, as well as the unjustifiable lack of attention to them” and attempts by Church leaders to cover up the crimes of the guilty, Pope Francis said. Speaking to the public, including dozens of abuse survivors, after his midday recitation of the Angelus Feb. 24, the pope promised measures to ensure children would be safe in the church and that the crime of abuse would stop. The pope’s remarks came just an hour after he concluded the Vatican’s Feb. 21-24 summit on child protection and the clerical abuse scandal. In his talk concluding the summit, Pope Francis said the Catholic Church would focus on eight priorities: the protection of children; “impeccable seriousness” in dealing with clerical sexual abuse; genuine purification and acknowledgment of past failures; improved training for priests and religious; strengthening and continually reviewing the guidelines of national bishops’ conferences; assisting victims of clerical sexual abuse; working to end the abuse and exploitation of children and young people online; and working with civil authorities to end sex tourism. The summit brought together Pope Francis and 190 church leaders – presidents of bishops’ conferences, the heads of the Eastern Catholic churches, superiors of men’s and women’s religious orders and Roman Curia officials – for four days of listening to speeches, survivors’ testimonies, discussions in small groups, a penitential liturgy and Mass.
[Show full text]
02-September 2018 Chatter
ROCK CREEK COUNCIL, NO. 2797 THE K NIGHT C HATTER September 2018 Published Monthly, at no charge, by Rock Creek Council, 5417 W. Cedar Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814 Year 81, No. 2 In This Issue The Tootsie Roll Chaplain’s Message 1 Campaign Grand Knight’s Report 1 A few years ago, when the District Deputy 3 Tootsie Roll Campiagn was Community Activities 1, 7 underway, three members Council Activities 7, 11 of our Council — Kevin Memories of a Brother Knight 4 Carlsen, Andrew Ellis and State - Columbus Day 6 then-GK Chris Ryan — col- Supreme 5 lected for the Intellectually Membership 10 Disabled at the Labor Day parade in Kensington. Club News (Lounge) 5 Lots of youngsters come Fourth Degree 6 by for a Tootsie Roll, and Fraternal Benefits 6, 7 some fathers learned REFLECTIONS 9 about the Knights. Seniors’ Club 8, 11 For details about the this Sick and Distressed 3 year’s drive, see page 10. CHAPLAIN’S MESSAGE GRAND KNIGHT’S REPORT F R . M A R K H U G H E S J O S E P H D O NI G E R Brother Knights, Worthy Brothers All, As school starts, as the summer It’s now one-and-a-half months ends, as we get ready for colder since we had our installation of of- weather and hectic holiday sea- ficers and Labor Day has passed. sons, let us make sure we also Time to get busy with all things keep the long term needs and Columbian! plans in place. That said, there are some events It is easy to go from season to sea- related to the Knights of Columbus son, project to project and one set that I would like to bring every- of needs to the next and let go of Fr.
[Show full text]
Glasgow and Motherwell, Believed Orange Perceived by Some As a Threat.” Seen As Contributing to Sectarianism, with Who Made an Appointment
DUMFRIES ROBERT CASSIDY CHURCHES CALL primary on the saintly for religious wins WWI gift of Pope freedom in competition. John XXIII constitution Page 4 Page 8 Page 3 No 5564 VISIT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER ONLINE AT WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK Friday April 11 2014 | £1 Vatican sends bishop to look SECTARIAN SCOTLAND I Attitudes today revealed in largest investigation into Catholics’ experiences at archdiocese By Ian Dunn THE largest ever survey of Scottish AN EXPERT from the Vati- investigated many allegations of Catholics’ attitudes to sectarianism can has visited the St clergy abuse, until 2012, when has found that many still believe it to Andrews and Edinburgh he was made an auxiliary bishop be a serious problem for Scotland. Archdiocese to look into alle- in Malta. The Conforti Institute’s Anti-Sectarianism gations of misconduct. In a statement Archbishop Project report finds that many Catholics An ad clerum letter from Cushley said he was ‘grateful to believe that sectarian bigotry still affects Archbishop Leo Cushley of St the Holy Father’ for sending their lives. The listening project details Andrews and Edinburgh to the Bishop Scicluna as he believed meetings in parishes and other groups with priests of his archdiocese reveals the visit would be ‘a positive hundreds of Catholics in seven of Scotland’s that Pope Francis asked the Vat- step towards truth and eventual eight dioceses. ican’s Congregation for Bishops reconciliation’ and ‘the right Bishop Joseph Toal of Argyll and the to send Maltese Auxiliary thing to do.’ Isles, Apostolic administrator for Mother- Bishop Charles Scicluna to ‘lis- “I am reassured by this and well Diocese, thanked lead programme ten to and report the testimony will be pleased to support officer and report writer Dr Geraldine Hill offered by past and present Bishop Scicluna in any way I and contributing writer Helen Martin at the members of the clergy concern- can,” the archbishop said.
[Show full text]
Bishopaccountability.Org ______
BISHOPACCOUNTABILITY.ORG ____________________________________________________________________________________ Ash Wednesday 2014 BishopAccountability.org Box 541375 Waltham MA 02454 His Eminence Cardinal Sean O’Malley, O.F.M.Cap. Archbishop of Boston Pastoral Center 66 Brooks Drive Braintree MA 02184-3839 Your Eminence, We are writing to express our concern regarding the interview with Pope Francis in Corriere della Sera and La Nacion, and to ask for your help in mitigating the interview’s effects. In his remarks, as you know, Pope Francis unfortunately represents the Church as the victim in the sexual abuse crisis, enduring attacks despite its “transparency” and “accountability,” which Francis characterizes as perhaps second to none. He personally praises Pope Benedict, while not even personally mentioning the victims of abuse, whose “cases” are terrible, Pope Francis says, and whose “statistics” are impressive. The Holy Father’s impersonal treatment of the church’s own victims is sadly in keeping with his failure, during the first year of his pontificate, to act on the scourge of clergy abuse or meet with a single victim. The victims themselves cannot help but notice that Pope Francis has met with many people of all kinds, and has been praised for his humble and accessible ways. Is there something about the victims of sexual abuse by priests and religious that disqualifies them from the Holy Father’s kindness and regard? As you know, Pope Benedict served a hard apprenticeship at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 2001–2005, when he spent his Fridays reading the abuse files. He called it his penance. His secretary, Bishop Charles Scicluna, spent long hours talking with the victims of Fr.
[Show full text]
MALTESE E-NEWSLETTER 349 December 2020
MALTESE E-NEWSLETTER 349 December 2020 1 MALTESE E-NEWSLETTER 349 December 2020 Pope Francis Appoints Rev. Ivan Camilleri as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Toronto TORONTO (28 November 2020) – Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Ivan Camilleri as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Toronto. Following his episcopal ordination, the new bishop will join three auxiliary bishops currently assisting the Archbishop of Toronto, Cardinal Thomas Collins, in serving the faithful of the Archdiocese of Toronto. Bishop-designate Camilleri commented on the appointment from the Holy Father: “I am very humbled by the trust that Pope Francis and Cardinal Collins have placed in me to serve the Archdiocese of Toronto in this ministry. I am grateful to His Eminence for his leadership and support, and I look forward to serving him and the people of the archdiocese in this way.” Cardinal Collins welcomed the announcement: “I am most grateful to Pope Francis for the appointment of Bishop-designate Camilleri as the newest Auxiliary Bishop in our archdiocese. He knows the community well and has been a tremendous source of support during my time as archbishop. I welcome him to the episcopacy and invite the priests of the archdiocese as well as the faithful to pray for him as he prepares for this new chapter of ministry.” Fr. Camilleri was born April 18, 1969 in Sliema, Malta. His family moved to Canada in 1980. He studied at Laurentian University earning a Bachelor of Commerce and then at The Edinburgh Business School earning a Master of Business Administration. After some years working in finance, he entered the seminary in 2001, completing a Bachelor of Sacred Theology and a Master of Divinity.
[Show full text]
Of Clergy Sex Abuse
At summit, survivors expose ‘cancer’ of clergy sex abuse VATICAN CITY — “Every time I refused to have sex with him, he would beat me,” an abuse survivor from Africa told Pope Francis and bishops attending the Vatican summit on child protection and the abuse crisis. The meeting began Feb. 21 with the harrowing stories of survivors of sexual abuse, cover-up and rejection by church officials. The pre-recorded testimonies of five survivors were broadcast in the synod hall; the Vatican did not disclose their names, but only whether they were male or female and their country of origin. In the first testimony, a man from Chile expressed the pain he felt when, after reporting his abuse to the church, he was treated “as a liar” and told that “I and others were enemies of the church.” “You are physicians of the soul and yet, with rare exceptions, you have been transformed — in some cases — into murderers of the soul, into murderers of the faith,” he said. Comparing the abuse crisis to a cancer in the church, the survivor said that “it is not enough to remove the tumor and that’s it,” but there must be measures to “treat the whole cancer.” He said he prayed that those who “want to continue to cover up” would leave the church, giving greater space “to those who want to a create a new church, a renewed church and a church absolutely free from sexual abuse.” A woman from Africa recalled the humiliation and suffering she endured when she was sexually and physically abused by a priest beginning when she was 15; he made her pregnant three times and each time forced her to have an abortion.
[Show full text]