Bolivian Jesuits apologize for alleged abuse by late priest

Bolivia’s Jesuit congregation apologized Tuesday and introduced an investigation right into a late Spanish priest who allegedly abused a number of minors in Bolivia relationship again to the Eighties.

“We apologize for the ache this has triggered,” stated the Rev. Bernardo Mercado, head of the Catholic spiritual order often called La Compañía de Jesús. He stated the congregation has launched a probe that seeks to convey justice for the victims and known as the scenario an “embarrassment.”

The case of Jesuit priest Alfonso Pedrajas Moreno got here to mild over the weekend in a report by the Spanish newspaper El País. It printed excerpts of the priest’s dairy, the place he allegedly admitted to having abused at the very least 85 kids whereas he was a instructor in Bolivia till 2009 when he died.

Bolivian officers haven’t launched the variety of victims nor the dates during which the alleged abuse came about. However earlier this week Bolivia’s top prosecutor Wilfredo Chávez stated on Twitter that he would search info from the Spanish consulate on the case, so it may be investigated in Bolivia.

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Bolivian Jesuits apologized for the alleged abuse of kids by a late priest relationship again to the Eighties.

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The congregation is investigating two instances, one which concluded in April and decided the “veracity” of that allegation, and a second one which is ongoing.

Audalia Zurita, a lawyer for the Jesuit congregation, stated Tuesday at a press convention that they’ve requested El País for a duplicate of Pedrajas Moreno’s dairy, and that each one info gathered of their probe can be shared with the Legal professional Normal’s Workplace.

This isn’t the primary grievance towards clergymen for abusing minors in Bolivia, however few instances have been completely investigated and dropped at justice.

In 2015, a rural priest was sentenced to 15 years in jail for the abuse of 12 minors. A short while later he dedicated suicide in jail. In 2009 a priest was sentenced to 22 years in jail for related crimes.