Puerto Rico Priest Sex Abuse Allegations Under Investigation
Puerto Rico authorities are reportedly investigating six Roman Catholic priests for alleged sex abuse.
The priests in question were expelled from the Arecibo Diocese as early as 2011 as part of what the diocese called its zero tolerance policy against child abuse. The diocese also claimed that it is working with authorities on the probe, but one prosecutor said, however, that “We are not satisfied with the information that the church gave us.” The prosecution is also asking additional victims of or witnesses to the alleged sex abuse to come forward.
Government prosecutors are in the process of interviewing persons who apparently have accused the priests of sodomy, sexual harassment, and other lewd acts.
Federal officials may also become involved in the Puerto Rico alleged church sex abuse investigation. “The case has caught the attention of officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, who have requested information from the island’s justice department, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to speak publicly about it.”
Bishop Daniel Fernandez, the church official responsible for expelling the six priests, is himself the subject of a sex abuse allegation that he has strongly denied. “Clearly, it’s revenge for the decisions I’ve taken since the moment I assumed leadership of the diocese, where the situation that I found was not the most positive. My conscience is at peace, because I know the accusation is false,” the bishop explained.
Pope Benedict put Fernandez in charge of the Diocese of Arecibo — which is located on the northern coast of the island — on September 24, 2010. Prior to that, he was the auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of San Juan.
Separate from the Puerto Rico church sex abuse allegations, earlier this week a United Nations report scolded the Vatican for the way in which it handled the hundreds of priest sexual abuse cases it is accused of covering up.
[image credit: UrayoanManuel]
