Priest arrested for child abuse and Archdiocese pronounced # 28Nov

Bishop José Luis Azuaje, Archbishop of Maracaibo, in the state of Zulia, apologized for and condemned the violence committed by Parroco Iván Merino Padial against a minor of 12 years, which led to the arrest of the priest who had already been suspended from his ministry.

According to local media reports, the priest of the Augustinian Order and Parish Vicar of the Holy Trinity Parish was arrested on the night of Saturday, November 24 after being found in his car with a minor under 12 years.

The case is in the hands of the Prosecutor General's Office 32 concerning the protection of children, girls and adolescents.

In a statement issued on 28 November, Bishop Azuaje and his auxiliary Bishop, Ángel Caraballo, asked "the forgiveness of the minor, her family members and the ecclesial community for the wrongs they suffered among us. to doubt their faith, the sin of those who are called to care for them, and to encourage them on the path of following Jesus Christ ".

They also expressed their "strongest condemnation of this lascivious action and all forms of sexual abuse, especially if this action is committed by a priest".

In the communiqué, they pointed out that the Augustinian Recollets had already begun "the process provided for in the Code of Canon Law, in the Regulations of the most serious crimes and in the protocol established by the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference for these cases justice, the scandal is repaired and the guilty clergy reformed ".

This is done "by respecting and respecting the laws of the State of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela," they said.

The statement reports that Fr. Iván Merino has been banned from "exercising priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Maracaibo".

The archdiocese has reiterated its commitment that these cases will not happen again. After recalling that most priests "give their lives for love", the prelates encouraged them to pray that "the Holy Spirit will grant us a Church that will be a living testimony of truth and freedom. , peace and justice, so that all men rejoice with new hope. "