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Vatican prepares for landmark sex abuse trial of ex-envoy

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The Vatican on Wednesday began preparing for a landmark trial of a disgraced former archbishop at the centre of one of the Church's most damaging child sex abuse cases.

In an unprecedented move personally sanctioned by Pope Francis, Polish cleric Jozef Wesolowski has been placed under house arrest pending the outcome of criminal proceedings launched by the Vatican authorities.

Wesolowski, 65, was defrocked in June after a Church tribunal found that he had abused minors during his 2008-13 stint as the Vatican's ambassador to the Dominican Republic.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said Wednesday Wesolowski had been charged on two counts: sexual abuse of minors and possession of child pornography.

Briefing Vatican reporters, the spokesman added that he expected the criminal investigation to be concluded early next year, clearing the way for the first sex abuse trial to take place within the walls of the Holy See.

If convicted, Wesolowski faces up to seven years in prison, possibly longer if there were aggravating circumstances, Lombardi said.

He said the case against the accused was based on documents and testimony used in the church's own proceedings as well as evidence provided by the Dominican Republic.

"He has been given a court lawyer but obviously he has the right, should he wish, to appoint his own advocate," the spokesman said.

Pope Francis greets the crowd as he arrives for his general audience at St Peter's square at th...
Pope Francis greets the crowd as he arrives for his general audience at St Peter's square at the Vatican on September 24, 2014
Vincenzo Pinto, AFP

Legal action against Vatican insiders has a recent precedent in the case of Paolo Gabriele, the former butler to now-retired Benedict XVI who was convicted in October 2012 of stealing papal documents in what was known as the Vatileaks scandal.

Gabriele was detained under house arrest prior to the trial and for two months after it before being released under a papal pardon issued by Benedict just before Christmas 2012.

Critics of that trial suggested the Vatican had stage-managed it to produce a verdict which conveniently suggested that Gabriele acted alone, thereby stifling any further revelations about corruption, nepotism and bitter infighting.

In the Wesolowski case, the Vatican had come under fire for withdrawing him to Rome when the allegations first surfaced and for subsequently declining to go along with an extradition request from the Dominican authorities.

Extradition moves by Wesolowski's native Poland were also rebuffed, although Lombardi said Wednesday that could happen after a trial here.

- Highly symbolic -

Earlier this year, the UN children's rights watchdog cited the lack of action over Wesolowski in a damning indictment of the Church failure to address the issue of clerical paedophilia that has become a global issue in recent years.

Vatican officials say the action against the former archbishop is a sign of how seriously the issue is being addressed.

Francesco Clementi, an expert in the complex legal and constitutional structures surrounding the micro-state, also interpreted the move as a sign the Vatican was facing up to its responsibilities to the victims of abuse.

Untitled
Vincenzo Pinto, AFP/File

"It is a very strong and powerful change of direction that is also highly symbolic," he told La Stampa.

"Francis has made a clear choice: in the state where he is sovereign and pontiff there is no place for clergy or lay people suspected of sexual abuse, particularly of minors."

Wesolowski was ordained in 1972 by the then-archbishop of Krakow, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, who later became pope John Paul II and was elevated to sainthood this year.

In his time at the Vatican, John Paul named Wesolowski as envoy to Bolivia and he also served in several Asian countries before his stint in the Dominican Republic.

Francis has promised a crackdown on paedophile priests. Last year, he overhauled Vatican law in the area with a special decree declaring that sexual violence and sexual acts with children, child prostitution and child pornography were punishable by up to 12 years in prison.

In May he warned there were "no privileges" for bishops when it came to child sex crimes and likened sexual abuse to a "Satanic Mass".

Church prosectors have dealt with nearly 3,500 abuse cases in the last decade, defrocking 848 and ordering more than 2,500 to live a life of prayer and penance.

The Vatican on Wednesday began preparing for a landmark trial of a disgraced former archbishop at the centre of one of the Church’s most damaging child sex abuse cases.

In an unprecedented move personally sanctioned by Pope Francis, Polish cleric Jozef Wesolowski has been placed under house arrest pending the outcome of criminal proceedings launched by the Vatican authorities.

Wesolowski, 65, was defrocked in June after a Church tribunal found that he had abused minors during his 2008-13 stint as the Vatican’s ambassador to the Dominican Republic.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said Wednesday Wesolowski had been charged on two counts: sexual abuse of minors and possession of child pornography.

Briefing Vatican reporters, the spokesman added that he expected the criminal investigation to be concluded early next year, clearing the way for the first sex abuse trial to take place within the walls of the Holy See.

If convicted, Wesolowski faces up to seven years in prison, possibly longer if there were aggravating circumstances, Lombardi said.

He said the case against the accused was based on documents and testimony used in the church’s own proceedings as well as evidence provided by the Dominican Republic.

“He has been given a court lawyer but obviously he has the right, should he wish, to appoint his own advocate,” the spokesman said.

Pope Francis greets the crowd as he arrives for his general audience at St Peter's square at th...

Pope Francis greets the crowd as he arrives for his general audience at St Peter's square at the Vatican on September 24, 2014
Vincenzo Pinto, AFP

Legal action against Vatican insiders has a recent precedent in the case of Paolo Gabriele, the former butler to now-retired Benedict XVI who was convicted in October 2012 of stealing papal documents in what was known as the Vatileaks scandal.

Gabriele was detained under house arrest prior to the trial and for two months after it before being released under a papal pardon issued by Benedict just before Christmas 2012.

Critics of that trial suggested the Vatican had stage-managed it to produce a verdict which conveniently suggested that Gabriele acted alone, thereby stifling any further revelations about corruption, nepotism and bitter infighting.

In the Wesolowski case, the Vatican had come under fire for withdrawing him to Rome when the allegations first surfaced and for subsequently declining to go along with an extradition request from the Dominican authorities.

Extradition moves by Wesolowski’s native Poland were also rebuffed, although Lombardi said Wednesday that could happen after a trial here.

– Highly symbolic –

Earlier this year, the UN children’s rights watchdog cited the lack of action over Wesolowski in a damning indictment of the Church failure to address the issue of clerical paedophilia that has become a global issue in recent years.

Vatican officials say the action against the former archbishop is a sign of how seriously the issue is being addressed.

Francesco Clementi, an expert in the complex legal and constitutional structures surrounding the micro-state, also interpreted the move as a sign the Vatican was facing up to its responsibilities to the victims of abuse.

Untitled

Vincenzo Pinto, AFP/File

“It is a very strong and powerful change of direction that is also highly symbolic,” he told La Stampa.

“Francis has made a clear choice: in the state where he is sovereign and pontiff there is no place for clergy or lay people suspected of sexual abuse, particularly of minors.”

Wesolowski was ordained in 1972 by the then-archbishop of Krakow, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, who later became pope John Paul II and was elevated to sainthood this year.

In his time at the Vatican, John Paul named Wesolowski as envoy to Bolivia and he also served in several Asian countries before his stint in the Dominican Republic.

Francis has promised a crackdown on paedophile priests. Last year, he overhauled Vatican law in the area with a special decree declaring that sexual violence and sexual acts with children, child prostitution and child pornography were punishable by up to 12 years in prison.

In May he warned there were “no privileges” for bishops when it came to child sex crimes and likened sexual abuse to a “Satanic Mass”.

Church prosectors have dealt with nearly 3,500 abuse cases in the last decade, defrocking 848 and ordering more than 2,500 to live a life of prayer and penance.

AFP
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With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

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