The Curia's in Trouble Again

By Andrea Tornielli
Vatican Insider
February 21, 2013

http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/inquiries-and-interviews/detail/articolo/portogallo-portugal-chiesa-church-iglesia-22529/

Carlos Moreira Azevedo

The Catholic hierarchy is in the thick of a new sex abuse storm and this time the Roman Curia's in the eye of it. Portuguese bishop Carlo Azevedo, 59, previously Auxiliary Bishop of Lisbon who coordinated the Pope's visit in 2010, he is now a delegate of the Pontifical Council of Culture and is being accused of allegedly molesting a seminarist. Portuguese magazine Visao reported the news, dedicating its front page tot he report filed against the bishop in 2010 at the Apostolic Nunciature in Lisbon.

According to the print edition of the magazine on news stands today, the abuse was committed during the 80's. A priest who is currently in charge of coordinating hospital chaplains reported Azevedo three years ago. Visao magazine writes that the case was looked into and the Catholic hierarchy collaborated in this, but the outcome is as yet unknown.

In November 2011, the bishop who is believed could be the next successor to Lisbon's patriarch, Cardinal Jose Policarpo, left Portugal and was nominated delegate of the Pontifical Council for Culture, a role which was not part of the Curia dicastery system but was a role created ad hoc, especially for the occasion, by Vatican leaders. It was believed the bishop may have been transferred to Rome because he did not see eye to eye with Patriarch Policarpo.

Bishop Azevedo strongly denies all accusations against him, he denies that he was questioned on the subject by the Nunciature in Lisbon and he also denies any canonical procedures being taken against him on the grounds of his alleged involvement in sex-abuse cases.

The spokesman of the Portuguese Bishops' Conference, Fr. Manuel Morujao, issued a statement a few hours ago recognising that Azevedo “has been accused of indecent behaviour which is inconsistent with the dignity and responsibility of the priesthood.”

The Bishops' Conference has stated it “cannot make judgements on the truth of the accusations.” “All members of the Church are expected to act as examples – the statement reads -. Especially those who have taken a vow to live in priestly celibacy.” The statement ends by assuring the Conference's prayers for the bishop but it does not appear to defend him in any way.

This is yet another event that has come to stir the waters even further in the period ahead of the Conclave and leaves many questions unanswered. Did the Holy See nominate the bishop when the accusations against him had not been brought to light yet?Or was he nominated after the accusations were found to be inconsistent? If this is the case, the Vatican should deny the accusations and promptly defend the bishop and his honour. If, however, the Holy See was aware of the accusations against him but these had not yet been examined, it is hard to see why he was transferred.