Fourteen priests linked to Chile sex abuse stripped of duties

SANTIAGO: Fourteen priests involved in a sex abuse scandal in Chile – which has rocked Pope Francis’s papacy – were defrocked on Tuesday.

“Fourteen priests no longer are allowed to carry out their duties... These priests have taken part in actions that may be civilian crimes as well as within the church,” the bishop’s office in the city of Rancagua said.

Nicknamed “the Family,” the group of priestly offenders commited sex abuses with young people including minors, churchgoer Elisa Fernandez told Channel 13 last week.

A priest said in that report aired last week that the group formed a sex abuse ring a decade ago, and engaged in sex acts with no regard for whether were minors or of age.

In addition, offenders used social media to control their interactions with victims and used church money for trips abroad ans well as expensive car services with young friends, the report added.

Just Friday, 34 Chilean bishops announced their resignation over the child sex abuse scandal.

The striking announcement came after the pontiff summoned the bishops over the scandal.

Several members of the Chilean church hierarchy are accused by victims of ignoring and covering up child abuse by Chilean pedophile priest Fernando Karadima during the 1980s and 1990s.

On Thursday evening, Francis promised “changes” to the Chilean church to “restore justice” in a short declaration to the bishops, which was made public.

But in a confidential 10-page document leaked Friday by Chilean TV channel T13, the Argentine pope goes much further in his indictment of the Chilean Church. — AFP