Vatican: Accused Brazilian Abusers Not Bishops

17-03-2010

VATICAN CITY, MARCH 16, 2010 (Zenit.org).- No Brazilian bishop was involved in the abuses against minors that have brought to light in recent days in Brazil, affirms the Vatican.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, wrote this in an statment issued today amidst reports circulating in the Brazilian media that two bishops and a priest of Brazil were banned from the exercise of their ministry because of acts of pederasty.

Brazil's UOL news agency published accusations made by a group of faithful and by relatives of boys of Aparecida, in the state of Alagoas, in northeastern Brazil. According to UOL, a video is being sold in street markets in which an alleged "bishop" abuses a boy.

Father Lombardi said that two of the accused have the title of monsignor, but are not bishops, and one of them has been dismissed as parish priest and is facing prosecution by the civil authorities.

"The other two were suspended from their ecclesiastical activities and are being subjected to a canonical process for suspicion of pedophilia, but up to now they deny everything," added the Vatican spokesman. This last aspect was confirmed by the lawyer of one of the presbyters.

http://www.zenit.org/article-28660?l=english