The newly elected Pope Leo XIV shares a commonality with many of his counterparts in the Catholic hierarchy: being in positions of authority when allegations of sexual abuse emerged against priests under his supervision. Some advocates for victims are now calling for an investigation into how Cardinal Robert Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV, handled such cases during his time in church leadership roles in Chicago and Peru. They are hopeful that as pope, he will take a strong stance against bishops who are mishandling similar situations. Anne Barrett Doyle of BishopAccountability.org stated that it is on Pope Leo XIV to earn the trust of victims and their families.
While some acknowledge Prevost for his support of survivors of an abusive Catholic movement in Peru that was dismantled by the late Pope Francis, others emphasize that he needs to be held accountable for his responses to abuse cases in Chicago and Peru. The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests filed a formal complaint against Prevost with the Vatican, alleging he abused his power in handling two cases. One case involves a priest named James Ray in Chicago, where Prevost was the regional leader of the Order of St. Augustine, and the other case arose during Prevost’s time as bishop in Chiclayo, Peru.
Although no accusations have been made against the pope himself, concerns have been raised about his handling of abuse cases in the past. The complaint against Prevost highlights instances where he may have failed to take appropriate action to protect children from potential harm. The hope is that Pope Leo XIV will prioritize the well-being of victims and work towards ensuring accountability within the Catholic Church.
In 2007, allegations surfaced accusing individuals associated with the diocese of sexually abusing minors. The diocese, under the leadership of Prevost, brought the case to the attention of the Vatican for review. Initially, the Vatican closed the case without a conclusion, but the diocese later reopened the investigation in 2023 after Prevost departed for a role within the Vatican.
The complaint detailed that Gonzales, one of the accused, was suspended from ministry pending investigation, yet later photos seemed to show him still performing Mass publicly. Yesquen, another accused individual, was reportedly no longer in ministry due to age and health reasons.
Criticism arose from the complaint stating that Prevost and the diocese failed to interview the accusers, provide support, or report the priests to civil authorities, hindering the Vatican’s investigation. However, conflicting reports suggested that the diocese followed proper procedures, with Prevost meeting the women involved.
The Vatican’s subsequent investigation deemed Prevost’s actions appropriate in imposing restrictions on Gonzales while Peruvian authorities conducted their own inquiry. Despite the closure of the case by Peruvian authorities due to the statute of limitations, Prevost was appointed to a Vatican position overseeing bishops, and the Vatican decided not to pursue a trial against Gonzales due to insufficient evidence.
Prevost had previously played a significant role in addressing a scandal within the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, a Catholic movement in Peru, leading to its dissolution by Pope Francis in 2023 over allegations of misconduct. The handling of this case was seen as a potential indicator of future reforms within the Church.
While there were criticisms of Prevost’s response to abuse cases during his tenure, particularly the lack of publicizing accused abusers, his efforts in addressing abuse within the Church and advocating for transparency were recognized. The statement emphasized the importance of supporting victims and holding accountable those responsible for abuse.
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