Chile announces in-depth investigation into sexual abuse

SANTIAGO DE CHILE (AP) – A total of 158 members of Catholic Church of Chile were the subject of an investigation for having committed or concealed sexual abuse Public Ministry

Investigations cover allegations of abuse committed by bishops clerics and lay people presented since 2000. Some cases Even in 1960.

In total, the number of victims is 266, including 178 minors and adolescents, as well as 31 adults. In 57 cases the ages of the people affected were not established

Figures coming from all over the country were announced after an avalanche of cases of sexual abuse and camouflage that have recently overwhelmed the Catholic Church of Chile. Pope Francis publicly condemned this year what he termed "culture of abuse and concealment".

The pope would also be ashamed that neither he nor the ecclesiastical authorities of Chile paid attention to the victims when the scandal broke out. aggravated in the country.

"The temptation would be to remain in the figure of the accused within the Church, but the Church today asks to take a first look at the number of victims; it is what shakes us and worries us, "said Jaime Coiro, spokesman for the Bishops' Conference of Chile

In the past, prosecutors in the country had to withdraw their charges against religious accused of sexual abuse because the crimes had already prescribed.

But the National Prosecutor's Office said it wanted to "rigorously investigate all cases of sexual crimes committed by priests or persons related to the "Church" against children and adults. "Beyond the fact that the crimes are prescribed or not, because the victims have the right to be heard by the courts and that it is the the duty of the Chilean Public Prosecutor to promote the conditions for that to happen. "[1 9659008] Of the 158 people surveyed in 144 different investigations, 65 are bishops, priests or deacons belonging to a congregation; 10 are lay people in charge of pastoral or school-related parishes; and nine were not specified where they worked.

The authorities claim that 36 of the 144 cases are under investigation and that 22 were sent to another judicial office because the alleged crimes were committed prior to legal reform in 2000. In A further 22 convictions were handed down, while 64 were closed or temporarily suspended for various reasons.