Chilean bishops offer resignation over sexual abuse cover-up

18 May,2018 10:17 AM IST |  Santiago  |  Agencies

It was not immediately clear if the pope would accept all or any of the resignations



Members of Chile's bishops conference Luis Fernando Ramos Perez (right) and Juan Ignacio Gonzalez announce the resignation of all Chilean bishops. Pic/AFP

All 34 Chilean bishops who attended a crisis meeting this week with Pope Francis about the cover-up of sexual abuse in their country have offered to resign, the bishops said on Friday.

It was not immediately clear if the pope would accept all or any of the resignations. "We have put our positions in the hands of the Holy Father and will leave it to him to decide freely for each of us," the bishops said in a statement, in which they also apologised to Chile, the victims of abuse and the pope.

The scandal has devastated the credibility of the Church in the once staunchly Catholic country. It has also hurt the pope's image because this year he strongly defended a bishop accused in the alleged cover-up before reversing his position. This week's meeting followed a Vatican investigation into Bishop Juan Barros, who was appointed by the pope in 2015 despite allegations that he had covered up sexual abuse of minors by his mentor, Father Fernando Karadima.

Now 87 and living in a nursing home in Chile, Karadima has always denied the allegations. Barros has said he was unaware of any wrongdoing. The Vatican on Friday confirmed Chilean media reports that the pope had handed the bishops a document this week accusing them of destroying evidence of sex crimes and of failing to protect children from predator priests.

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
world news
Related Stories