Why Prevost's papal prospects prompt pushback
As high-profile cardinals urge votes for Prevost, some abuse advocates raise concern
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But as Maradiaga and Pierre seemingly urge votes toward Prevost, abuse advocates are raising concerns about the cardinal’s candidacy, suggesting that Prevost’s handling of abuse cases should disqualify him from office.
Among the cases flagged by advocates are charges that Prevost’s former Diocese of Chiclayo has been accused of mishandling clerical allegations made by three sisters, who say that in 2022, when they reported abuse in the diocese, Prevost failed to open an investigation into the claims.
They also charge that documentation sent to Rome on the case was purposely designed to look inadequate so as to prevent action on the case.
The Diocese of Chiclayo has maintained that the accusations had been handled according to canonical norms and in line with Church policy - that Cardinal Prevost had met with the young women in April 2022, and encouraged them to take their case to the civil authorities, while opening an initial canonical investigation.
The diocese further said that the results of their initial investigation were sent to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, along with notice that the civil investigation had been shelved for lack of evidence and because the statute of limitations had expired.
But in a statement published last September, the three alleged victims claim that there had been no investigation, or at least nothing substantial or serious. If anything was sent to Rome, they allege, it was tailored to be considered insufficient and not merit the opening of a full penal canonical investigation.
“We strenuously deny the existence of any ‘initial investigation’ during the tenure of Mons. Robert Francis Prevost Martínez OSA,” they said. “As proof of our statements, we point to the non-existence of any decree ordering the opening of an investigation, or of any decree issuing precautionary measures.”
“During this period, we were never called by any investigator to make any deposition,” they state, noting that they are referring specifically to the period between April 2022 and November 2023, when one alleged victim went public with her allegations.
The women also claim that they were never offered any psychological support, or assistance of any kind. They also point to what they say is a legal error in the diocesan statement, which claims that the civil case was thrown out for lack of evidence — the sisters say that the only reason given by the civil authorities was that the statute of limitations had expired, with no reference made to a supposed lack of evidence.
As the dispute unfolded, the victims claimed that an accused priest admitted guilt to Prevost directly, compounding the charges that Prevost had mishandled the case.
Another case — first reported by The Pillar in 2021 — has also drawn attention amid Prevost’s candidacy.
In 2000, Prevost allowed a Chicago archdiocesan priest who sexually abused minors to live in an Augustinian rectory around the corner from a Catholic school — in a residence Cardinal Blase Cupich later said was not appropriate for priests accused of abuse.
in September 2000, Fr. James Ray was permitted to live at St. John Stone Friary, a house of the Chicago province of the Augustinian religious order. The friary is half a block from a parish elementary school.
According to diocesan records, the move required approval by Prevost, who was then an Augustinian provincial superior.
According to diocesan records reviewed by The Pillar, Ray had been restricted in ministry for nine years by 2000, and had been accused multiple times of sexually abusing boys, at least one of them for years. He had admitted to bringing at least one boy to sleep in his rectory bed, but said of one allegation that he “did not recall” having sexually assaulted a child with whom he admitted to having “cuddled.” Ray did admit to diocesan officials that in 1993 he engaged in sexual activity with a man while on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, a supposed Marian apparition site in Croatia.
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https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/why-prevosts-papal-prospects-prompt