Sodalitium community declares founder is guilty of abuse accusations

Last updated on: April 6, 2016 at 12:06 am by CNA Daily News

Sodalitium community declares founder is guilty of abuse accusations 2016-04-06T00:06:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Lima, Peru, Apr 5, 2016 / 06:06 pm (CNA).- The superior general of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae released on Tuesday a video statement confirming that the founder of the community, Luis Fernando Figari, is guilty of the accusations leveled against him.

An apostolic visitor from the Vatican recently concluded investigating allegations of sexual abuse, mistreatment, and abuse of power against Figari. The conclusions of the apostolic visit are now in the hands of Vatican authorities.

“After the testimonies received, we consider Luis Fernando Figari guilty of the allegations of abuse against him and declare him persona non grata to our organization as we deplore and wholly condemn his behavior,” Alessandro Moroni Llabres, superior general of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, said in his April 5 statement.

The Sodalitium Christianae Vitae is a society of apostolic life which was founded in 1971 in Peru, and granted pontifical recognition in 1997. Alejandro Bermúdez, executive director of CNA, is a member of the community.

Figari founded the community, and stepped down as its superior general in 2010. In addition to Peru, the community operates in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, the United States, and Italy.

In his statement, released in Spanish on YouTube, Moroni said that “the last few months have been very hard for the Sodalit family because we have been confronted with a regrettable past,” which “we all have seen through the news and social media.”

“After more than five months of prayer, reflection and an intense internal criticism it is time to come forward to publicly release the response of the Superior Council of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae facing these sad and reprehensible facts” involving Figari, the statement continues.

Moroni indicated his desire “to convey three very important messages” to the public. First, he said, is that “we ask for forgiveness from the victims of any type of abuse and mistreatment which they may have suffered from any member of our organization,” especially those who “for years did not obtain a satisfactory and convincing response from our authorities.”

Second, “beyond the ecclesiastical or judicial sentence that the founder of the Sodalitium may deserve — which we will respect and abide as appropriate — we also want to make known our moral condemnation of his offenses and crimes.”

He added that the community had “personally asked Pope Francis in a private hearing held last December to order [Figari’s] immediate separation from our community and to end his unsustainable retreat at our facilities.”

Moroni’s third message for the public was that “we announce the immediate start of a comprehensive reform of our organization, taking into account the mistakes of the past in order to build a new Sodalitium on the strength of the charism we received, its great family, and its good works in Peru and abroad.”

“We have asked the Holy Father to send us a representative to help us implement and lead this reform,” Moroni continued.

“The authorities of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae recognize the sin of not having reacted in a firm and timely manner, and are willing to assume the necessary penance for the forgiveness of God, the Church, our spiritual family, and all of society,” the statement concluded.

“We are sure that with the grace of God, our great family will prevail and move forward beyond the mistakes of its authorities, who starting today are committed to write a new story. Thank you very much.”

Americas

Previous Post

April 5, 2016

Entrepreneur, father of nine to serve as dean of CUA business school

Next Post

April 6, 2016 How a sketchbook led one Chinese woman to the Catholic faith

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which prophet's wife died as a sign to Israel, and he was told not to mourn?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Daniel Amos Obadiah Ezekiel