Pope expels 10 members of Sodalitium of Christian Life over allegations of abuse

This Wednesday the Pope Francis approved the expulsion of 10 members of the Sodalicio de Vida Cristiana (SVC), after receiving complaints of physical abuse with sadism, abuse of authority and against the administration of ecclesiastical property. This was reported by the Peruvian Episcopal Conference (CEP).

Among those expelled are his former superior general, Eduardo Regal, and the emeritus archbishop of Piura, José Antonio Eguren.

In a statement, the CEP explained that the decision was taken after assessing the defenses corresponding to the accusations that emerged during the special mission entrusted to Charles J. Scicluna, Archbishop of Malta and Adjunct Secretary of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, and to the official of said Dicastery, Jordi Bartomeu, between July and August of last year.

Expelled from the Sodalitium of Christian Life

It is worth noting that this measure is taken one month after the expulsion of the founder of this apostolic society, Luis Figari, due to the allegations of sexual abuse filed against him and other directors of the Sodalitium, which were documented in the book ‘Half Monks, Half Soldiers’ by journalists Pedro Salinas and Paola Ugaz in 2015.

Figari remains in Rome after the Peruvian Prosecutor’s Office launched preliminary investigations into the alleged sexual abuse of minors, although they were later archived in 2019.

He indicated that Regal and Eguren, the expulsion includes the former regional superiors Rafael Ismodes and Erwin Scheuch, the former trainers Humberto del Castillo, Oscar Tokumura and Daniel Cardó.

Also, to former incorporated members Ricardo Trenemann, Miguel Salazar, and journalist Alejandro Bermúdez.

“In order to adopt this disciplinary decision, the scandal caused by the number and seriousness of the abuses reported by the victims was taken into account,” the CEP stressed.

He explained that these were cases of physical abuse, including sadism and violence; abuse of conscience with methods to break the will of subordinates; spiritual abuse, abuse of position and authority, as well as covering up crimes committed within the group.

(With information from EFE)

Pope Francis signs expulsion of members of the Sodalitium of Christian Life.

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