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In southern Chile there were simultaneous raids in the offices of two archbishops in the investigation into sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church in the country. In the towns of Temuco and Villarrica, some 700 kilometers south of the capital Santiago, investigators interviewed the staff of the archbishops and took documents.
In the region, five priests are suspected of sexual abuse. The investigation dates back to the year 2000. The Chilean authorities are conducting a major investigation into the abuses committed by the Catholic clergy. Victims' interest groups say that this was widespread and that the influential church in Chile was doing too little to deal with the perpetrators themselves.
Serious Neglect
Just today, the day of the raids, the highest A Catholic official in Chile appeared in court. This is the former Chancellor of the Archbishop of Santiago, who was arrested yesterday. He is accused of abusing at least five children until last year. If he is found guilty, he can have a cell between two and fifteen years old.
Charges of sexual abuse in Chile began after Pope Francis visited the country in January. Vatican clerics concluded after an investigation that Chilean bishops can be accused of gross negligence in their approach to the abuse scandal.
In May, Pope Francis ordered more than thirty Chilean bishops to come to Rome where they collectively offered their resignations. The pope has accepted that of five of them.
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