Controversial Chilean Cleric Is Quietly Sent Away

SNAP
August 4, 2015

http://www.snapnetwork.org/chile_controversial_chilean_cleric_is_quietly_sent_away

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, davidgclohessy@gmail.com)

[ficials have quietly sent to another country a priest who admits facilitating illegal adoptions. Shame on them. http:]

Fr. Alex Vigueras of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts order has moved Fr. Gerardo Joannon to a house for priests in the city of Merlo, Argentina, according to CNN.

“Chilean authorities said Joannon is only one of many priests, nuns, doctors, nurses and others who conspired to carry out illegal adoptions” as recently as 1990, CNN also reports.

Adding insult to injury, Catholic officials refused to explain or discuss their irresponsible move.

This is why clerics continue to commit and conceal crimes in the church: because they’re almost never disciplined by their supervisors or denounced by their colleagues. Usually, they’re just quietly moved, no matter how harmful or recent or illegal their crimes may be.

Instead of quietly protecting their colleagues, Catholic officials should be begging anyone with information about Fr. Joannon’s crimes to contact law enforcement. It’s always possible that a criminal who has so far evaded the law might still be prosecution. It’s likely that Fr. Joannon has committed more recent offenses for which he could still be charged. That’s why Catholic officials should prod parishioners and others to step forward if they saw, suspected or suffered wrongdoing by Fr. Joannon or other priests.