They found dead a Chilean priest accused of child abuse

A priest who was under investigation for alleged badual badault on minors was found dead, apparently by suicide, at his home in Puerto Montt, southern Chile, police sources said Saturday.

The deceased was identified as José Francisco Núñez Calisto and it was one of the three religious investigated for abuse in Puerto Montt, 1,000 kilometers from Santiago.

According to Commissioner Franco Cárdenas, of the investigative police of this city (PDI), the body was found by a sister-in-law who came to visit him with a group of friends of the priest, fearing to have not seen it for several days and I have not answered the calls.

"There are no indications from third parties and the person has sharp forearm injuries with a knife."commented the police officer to reporters.

The priest left a letter that is in the hands of the police and whose contents are kept in reserve to be part of the investigation.

The Archdiocese of Puerto Montt, currently headed by Apostolic Administrator Ricardo Morales, issued a statement on Saturday in which he "deeply regrets the death of the priest José Francisco Núñez Calisto" and joins the grief of his family in the face of such an irreparable loss. We pray to the Lord Jesus Christ for Fr. Francis and we ask that the good God accept him in the eternal dwellings ".

Morales was charged with investigating the charges against the deceased priest, who had been denounced at the end of last Julyafter which he sent Pope Francis a letter in which he asked him to leave the priesthood, in addition to formulating charges for the trial against him.

In June 2010, while he was officiating at the parish in his charge, Núñez Calisto was attacked by an individual who stabbed him at the neck while handing the platelets to the faithful.

At present, the prosecutor's office is investigating in Chile about 148 allegations of badual violence committed by persons related to the Catholic Church, while the number of victims has risen to 255, according to official data of the Catholic Church. Public minister.

Among the alleged implicated are bishops accused of concealing the abuses, which triggered a crisis in the Chilean church, to the point that seven prelates had to leave their posts on the decision of Pope Francis, who n & # 39; Has not yet filled the vacant posts.

(With EFE information)