Whereas defrocking technically stays an choice, various measures might embrace eradicating him from the artwork group he based in Rome and isolating him in a monk-like lifetime of penance and prayer so he’s now not a menace to ladies, stated Rupnik’s superior, the Rev. Johan Verschueren.
“Naturally the very first thing for me to be vigilant about is to do all the things to stop related issues from occurring sooner or later,” Verschueren stated, including that he however hoped that Rupnik would assume accountability for his actions.
The Rupnik scandal exploded in December when Italian blogs and web sites reported that consecrated ladies had complained for years about abuse solely to have their claims discredited or lined up by Rupnik’s superiors. The case has remained an issue for the Vatican and the Jesuits due to suspicions that the charismatic Slovene priest acquired preferential therapy by the Holy See, the place a Jesuit pope reigns and Jesuit clergymen assist run the intercourse abuse workplace.
Verschueren briefed AP and La Repubblica newspaper forward of the discharge Tuesday of conclusions of a brand new investigation into Rupnik opened in December, after the Jesuits reluctantly admitted Rupnik had been declared excommunicated in 2020 for having dedicated one of many gravest crimes in church legislation — utilizing the confessional to absolve a girl with whom he had engaged in sexual exercise — however had repented and had the sanction rapidly eliminated.
The subsequent 12 months, Rupnik was accused by 9 ladies of getting sexually, psychologically and spiritually abused them within the Nineties at a group he co-founded in Slovenia. Though the Jesuits advisable a church trial, the Vatican’s intercourse abuse workplace refused to waive the statute of limitations and declared the crimes too outdated to prosecute.
The result underscored how the Catholic hierarchy routinely refuses to contemplate non secular and sexual abuse of grownup ladies as against the law that should be punished, however fairly a mere lapse of priestly chastity that may be forgiven, with out contemplating the trauma it causes victims.
Amid the scandal, the Jesuits invited anybody with different claims towards Rupnik to come back ahead and 15 folks did: 14 ladies and one man, Verschueren instructed AP and La Repubblica. The Jesuits’ investigative workforce decided their claims, which date from 1985-2018, had been credible and confirmed a “sample” of psychological, sexual and non secular abuse, and abuse of conscience.
Based mostly on the 15 new claims, Verschueren stated he reaffirmed earlier bans on listening to confessions or giving non secular route, and on leaving the Rome space with out permission. However moreover, Rupnik will now be prohibited from exercising his creative exercise, Verschueren stated, suggesting that his interactions with folks in creating his mosaics grew to become a supply of abusive relationships.
“I solely take measures when there are causes for threat,” he stated.
Rupnik hasn’t responded to the newest allegations: He hasn’t responded to requests for interviews, declined to talk with the investigative workforce and Verschueren stated his subsequent process can be to fulfill with Rupnik to listen to his facet, insisting that he be given the best to defend himself.
Verschueren stated he would determine on definitive disciplinary measures based mostly on how Rupnik responds, expressing hope that he assumes accountability for his actions and agrees to endure psychological remedy.
“I imagine, I hope we are able to nonetheless arrive at a technique of discovering the reality,” he stated. “Solely after we enter into the reality with all these concerned can we actually resolve the issue — the issue of the victims and coming into right into a technique of reparation with them, but in addition for him.”
He acknowledged there are some who need Rupnik faraway from the priesthood, given the serial nature of his abuse and greater than two dozen victims already recognized. However Verschueren famous that kicking Rupnik out of the Jesuits would take away all controls on him, growing probabilities that he might proceed to be a menace.
The brand new accusations don’t concern sacramental abuse that may justify forwarding the case to the Vatican’s intercourse abuse workplace, referred to as the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Religion. Verschueren stated he was “relieved” that the Dicastery wouldn’t be concerned, given its earlier choice to not waive the statute of limitations on the 2021 case.
In a Jan. 24 interview with AP, Pope Francis acknowledged he all the time waives the statute of limitations for abuse of kids instances, however not these involving adults. In that very same interview, Francis denied he had something to do with the Rupnik case apart from to intervene on a procedural be aware.
Along with the abuse investigation, a theologian was introduced in to check Rupnik’s writings and located some probably “transgressive” issues with conferences Rupnik gave on sexuality within the Eighties and Nineties, Verschueren stated.
“The theologian I consulted didn’t need to name it a heresy, however stated it gave a gap to legitimize sure actions that aren’t appropriate,” he stated.
He denied Rupnik’s artwork was irrevocably tainted, likening it to authors who write nice books however are themselves flawed.
“I requested myself, Johan, is it laborious to wish earlier than these mosaics? My response isn’t any,” he stated of Rupnik’s chapel mosaics on the Jesuit headquarters. “In a manner, I’ve been in a position to separate the artwork from the artist.”