Investigations underway

adminonDecember 13, 2021January 5, 2022Leave a Comment

Abuse scandal in the church (symbol image) © Evandro Inetti

According to a media report, the public prosecutor's office in Argentina has begun investigations into sexual abuse against the former bishop of Oran, Gustavo Zanchetta. According to the Vatican, there is "no allegation of sexual abuse".

The daily newspaper "La Voz" (Thursday local time) refers in its article to a communication of the investigative authority of Salta. This week, the Archbishop of Tucuman, Carlos Alberto Sanchez, had already begun canonical investigations in the case of Zanchetta. The diocese of Oran had announced this earlier in the week.

Zanchetta, 54, was named bishop of Oran in northern Argentina in one of Pope Francis' first personnel decisions in July 2013. After Zanchetta stepped down as diocesan leader in August 2017, Francis appointed him in December of the same year to the specially created post of assessor in the administration of goods, the Holy See's treasury.

Victims of sexual abuse should come forward

Argentine newspaper El Tribuno had reported the allegations against Zanchetta in late December. The paper interpreted several internal diocesan personnel decisions and even the transfer of papal nuncio Emil Paul Tscherrig from Argentina to Italy as responses to the allegations.

Oran diocese, on the other hand, declared on 30. December, saying the personnel measures were based solely on pastoral considerations. Oran's Bishop Luis Antonio Scozzina called on victims of sexual abuse to report to the appropriate church authorities or state justice system.

Vatican spokesman: Zanchetta not deposed by pope

The acting Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti rejected in early January the account that Zanchetta had been deposed by the pope. He said the bishop himself had asked to step down from office. The reason was a difficult relationship between Zanchetta and the clergy. In the process, the bishop has been accused of authoritarian behavior, but there has been "not a single allegation of sexual abuse," the Vatican said.

After an interim period in Spain, Zanchetta had been appointed to the Vatican "in view of his ability in administration". However, no leadership responsibility comes with the position as assessor, Gisotti said at the time.

Dark cloud over a Jesus figure on the cross © shutterstock

According to the Pope's ambassador to Liechtenstein and Switzerland, Martin Krebs, there is polarization everywhere in the Church. But these differ according to country and situation. Some ies have less weight elsewhere.

"One reason for tensions in the Church is often the question of how to live the encounter between the Gospel and the modern world," the German Vatican diplomat told the portal katholisch.en (Wednesday). The Second Vatican Council had already taught that "this encounter is not only possible, but also necessary and beneficial – both for society and for the Church".

There are internal church disputes in all countries, "even if the concrete situations are different.

The Essen-born clergyman explained, "In very poor countries, people are less concerned with theoretical ies."There, it is "often a matter of simple, bare survival in many respects, so that other questions are dealt with more in the background. Similar problems exist everywhere, "but they do not manifest themselves in the same way everywhere".

"Also a service to other countries"

Krebs said, with regard to the topics that are particularly discussed in Europe and Germany, such as the diaconate of women or the blessing of homosexual couples, which are less in the focus elsewhere: "If, however, some local churches have the opportunity to think through and discuss such questions, then that is also a service to other countries. What the end result will be for poorer countries is "another story". Krebs, however, considers division of tasks "definitely advantageous".

Speaking about his mission as a papal diplomat, Krebs said, "It's not about presenting a church that we like because it's so beautifully compact and harmonious, but church is sent, church is mission, church goes outside. Church's outreach is important, Krebs says. But it is more important to see where one is needed. In the spirit of Pope Francis, he objected, "The Church is like a field hospital and should be dented rather than closed and comfortable clinging to its certainties."

Krebs most recently served as papal nuncio to Uruguay since 2018; he previously represented the pope in Mali and Guinea in West Africa from 2008 to 2013, then in New Zealand and the Pacific nations of Nauru, Tonga, Marshall Islands, Samoa and Fiji. Now he represents the Vatican in Bern.

In strong words, Trier Bishop Stephan Ackermann condemned the sexual abuse of minors by priests. "Priests have betrayed people's trust in the cruelest way," Ackermann lamented in Trier on Wednesday.

Unlike in the past, he no longer believes that anyone who has been baptized and ordained a priest has automatically arrived at Jesus, said Ackermann, who is the German Bishops' Conference commissioner for cases of sexual abuse. He also criticized "errors in communication from the bishops and also from Rome". Victims of sexual abuse often suffer throughout their lives, the bishop said. Referring to the volcanic eruption in Iceland, he said one could have the impression that a "crust" had now also broken open in the matter of sexual abuse by priests. "A poisonous, stinking cloud is being discharged," Ackermann said. He spoke at a service during a "priests' day" as part of this year's Trier Holy Rock Days. Around 250 priests took part in the service. The sermon was met with loud applause from them and others attending the service.

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