towerHe did not abuse children himself, but he covered someone in his order
According to him, the name of Robert Francis Prevost, the new pope, appeared on this list. “He did not abuse children himself, but he covered someone with his Augustinian order,” said the Belgian priest. “The letter was sent to Pope Francis and to the Cardinal-Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, the number two of the Vatican”.
Will the new Pope Leon XIV walk in the footsteps of François? “A pope is still pursuing the work of his predecessor,” said Tommy Scholtes
“I was really shocked,” says Rik Devillé. “For abuse authors, this is good news, because if the pope himself is involved, it will be difficult for him to reprimand them. But for the victims, it is a slap. I have no words to describe this,” he said.
“Among these 133 cardinals, could they not really choose someone who was not linked to a guilty negligence file?” Asks Rik Devillé. “Especially when you know that Pope Francis had zero tolerance on this point. They were warned.”
A priest accused of covered sexual violence
The Snap refers to the time when Robert Prevost was superior provincial of the Augustins in Chicago. In 2000, he would have enabled a priest accused of sexual violence on minors to reside in a convent near a primary school.
The organization also evokes the period when the new pope was bishop of Chiclayo, Peru. In 2022, three victims of sexual violence spoke to the civil authorities after finding that the file they had transmitted to the Church through the diocese did not advance. According to them, Robert PREVOST did not diligen an investigation and did not send enough information to Rome. The diocese also allowed the priest to continue to celebrate mass.
A complaint filed in 2023
In a reaction to the election of the new Pope, the SNAP requests that measures be taken in the first 100 days of its pontificate, in particular the establishment of an “commission of independent overall truth” with the full cooperation of the Vatican.
The SNAP filed a complaint about Robert Prevost with the previous Pope Francis in 2023. Today, the organization asks Pope Leo XIV to continue the fight against sexual violence committed within the Church. “You can put an end to this crisis. The only question is whether you want,” concludes the organization.
Luc Terlinden convinced that Leon XIV will be uncompromising with regard to sexual abuse
The Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, Luc Terlinden, is convinced that Pope Leo XIV will apply zero tolerance for sexual abuse in the church, he said on a press conference on Friday. The primate of Belgium responded to the concerns expressed by Rik Devillé, retired priest and defender of victims of sexual abuse by religious. The latter said, based on a letter from Snap, the American organization of the victims of the Church, which Robert Francis Prevost covered certain cases of abuse in the past.
“Know that I discussed with the future Léon XIV in this room,” Luc Terlinden told the press. The two men met several times, in Rome and during the visit to Belgium of the deceased Pope Francis. The Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels was therefore delighted with the election of Léon XIV, a pope “in the line of François”. “He is a simple, humble, listening man. He immediately arouses confidence,” he said.
According to Luc Terlinden, the guideline of the Pontificate of Leon XIV will be peace: “The Pope has entrusted an important mission to the Church: being in the service of peace.” The archbishop also insisted on in -depth knowledge that the new pope of the current situation of the Church. “Léon XIV has traveled the world. He is a man of dialogue who will be able to weave bridges between the faithful and the communities.”
Léon XIV will also have to face many challenges, including that of the place granted to women in the church. “I have already discussed this aspect with him,” said Luc Terlinden. “The pope has already experienced this situation in Peru, where women occupy great responsibilities in the church. I am confident that he will help us, with rigor and prudence, to advance on these conditions”.