The Church in Chile continues to suffer allegations of Clerical sexual abuse and cover-ups.
Chilean Prosecutor, Emiliano Arias, announced that authorities have arrested Father Oscar Munoz, former Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Santiago, following accusations that he had sexually abused seven minors in Santiago and Rancagua since 2002.
In May of this year, Father Munoz confessed to Church authorities and was suspended -- all this occurring just before the visit of Pope Francis to the country.
The irony of all this is that the survivors, with whom Pope Francis eventually met after his infamous declarations about Bishop Baros’ innocence, had reported the abuse they suffered precisely to Father Munoz in his capacity as former Chancellor of Santiago.
Juan Carlos Cruz, a survivor, expressed shock and outrage: “The insolence – to put it mildly – is astonishing. (Father Munoz) was the one who took our statements, and nothing happened,” Cruz tweeted.
The Archdiocese of Santiago confirmed that Prosecutor Arias, accompanied by police, conducted a second search and seizure operation in connection with the charges against Father Munoz as well as several other pending investigations.
During the first search operation June 13, police raided the tribunal offices of the Archdiocese of Santiago as well as the offices of retired Bishop Alejandro Goic Karmelic of Rancagua.
Bishop Goic, who served as president of the Chilean Bishops’ Commission for Abuse Prevention, was forced to suspend 14 of the Diocese’s 68 Priests after an investigative report by a Chilean television channel revealed the existence of a sex-abuse ring made up of Clergy.
After the report’s broadcast, Bishop Goic apologized for his failure to act “with the appropriate agility in the investigation” of the Priests allegedly involved in the sex-abuse ring.
Pope Francis accepted the Bishop’s resignation on June 28.
Prosecutor Arias has confirmed his office is investigating the alleged sex-abuse ring in Rancagua as well as possible cover-ups of abuse cases by senior members of the Clergy, including Cardinal Riccardo Ezzati of Santiago and his predecessor, Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz.
The news from Chile just keeps getting worse and worse.
Dear Holy Spirit, heal the wounds and ease the suffering of the Church in Chile. Give Pope Francis the strength and resolve to hold those responsible for these atrocities accountable for their misdeeds. Bless the Catholic faithful of Chile who have been so betrayed and abandoned by their Bishops and their Priests.
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