PUERTO RICO
Prensa Latina
[Summary: Roberto Gonzalez, metropolitan archbishop of San Juan, denied the Catholic Church in Puerto Rico was involved in a conspiracy to cover-up sexual abuse by clergy. He acknowledged, however, that mistakes were made in dealing with pedophilia allegations. He spoke out at a press conference because the Arecibo diocese is immersed in a scandal after it become known that priest Jose Colon is being investigated for pedophilia.
Gonzalez said in recent years 32 priests have been expelled from the church for misconduct or sexual situations. He urged victims of sexual abuse to contact civil authorities.
The situation in the Arecibo diocese has ramifications with removal of Josef Wesolowski, apostolic nuncio to the Dominican Republic, who allegedly abused minors in the Dominican Republic. Wesolowski often visited Puerto Rico and stayed overnight in the Arecibo diocese, according to parishioners of St. Martin de Porres. Gonzalez said Daniel Fernandez, bishop of Arecibo, properly handled the issue and has advised the Vatican of the situation.
The Arecibo diocese is being investigated by the church because of allegations of sexual activities involving priests and seminarians. Newspaper reports claim that at least four bishops were deposed and nine seminarians were expelled from Seminario Jesús Maestro.]
San Juan, 27 sep (PL) El arzobispo metropolitano de San Juan, Roberto González, rechazó hoy que en la Iglesia católica puertorriqueña exista contubernio para encubrir los casos de abuso sexual en que incurren miembros de la curia.
El prelado reconoció, sin embargo, que se han cometido errores en la atención de denuncias de casos de pedofilia en los que han estado involucrados sacerdotes.
Las expresiones de González se produjeron en una rueda de prensa en el Arzobispado de San Juan, luego de que saliera a la luz pública que la Diócesis de Arecibo, en el norte del país, se encuentra inmersa en un escándalo luego que se conociera que el sacerdote José Colón es investigado por pedofilia.
Aseguró que desde que se encuentra al frente del Arzobispado metropolitano de San Juan, hace 14 años, se han expulsado 32 sacerdotes de la Iglesia católica por mala conducta o situaciones de naturaleza sexual.
González instó a las víctimas de abuso sexual a acudir a las autoridades civiles para que se investiguen criminalmente los casos.
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