Monsignor Antonio Camilo Gonzalez, the Bishop of La Vega, asked for pardon yesterday, Wednesday 4 September from everyone who has been affected by alleged abuses committed by representatives of the Catholic Church.
Three cases have been uncovered by investigative journalists and are summertime headline news n Papal Nuncio Josef Wesoloski, priest Wojciech Gil (Alberto) of Juncalito and priest Juan Manuel Mota de Jesus (Father Johnny) in Constanza.
Until this week when the Vatican confirmed the charges against Wesolowski and Monsignor Agripino Nunez Collado confirmed the accusations locally, senior Catholic Church officials in the Dominican Republic had remained tight-lipped, despite the reports having aired several months ago.
“We ask for forgiveness from the persons affected, from their families, society and the people themselves for the times that with a bad example and the lack of a coherent testimony, as servants of Jesus Christ, we have offended,” said the Archbishop in a brief statement. At the same time he asked the Justice Department to continue the investigations of the cases reported, “so that the truth prevails and that action is taken in accordance with the dictates of the Law.” “They have to investigate the incidents in which sons of the Church’s family have been involved,” stated the Dominican Catholic Church body.
The Archbishop of Santiago, under Monsignor Ramon Benito de la Rosa y Carpio, also issued a statement asking for forgiveness from families, society and everyone who had been affected by the bad conduct of the priests.
On Wednesday, 4 September the Vatican confirmed the firing of Papal Nuncio Josef Wesolowski, due to “missteps” related to accusations of pederasty. In May, parish priest Wojciech Gil (Alberto) was accused of raping some 14 boys in the Juncalito community in the province of Santiago. Another priest, Juan Manuel Mota de Jesus, “Father Johnny,” has been suspended from his Constanza parish after he was accused of sexually abusing young girls.
In 2003, a notorious pedophilia case in an orphanage in San Rafael de Yuma was filed away in the courts without anyone receiving a definitive sentence. Journalist Edith Febles exposed the scandal in 2005. Most of those involved in that case have died in tragic circumstances or have benefited from impunity. At the time, the orphanage was closed, the priests were relocated and the head of the Church in the eastern region, Monsignor Ramon de la Rosa y Carpio, was promoted to the Diocese of Santiago.
www.acento.com.do/index.php/news/85819/56/Violaciones-y-orgias-contra-ninas-de-albergue-catolico-10-anos-de-impunidad.html
http://crimenesdelvaticanoenrepdominicana.blogspot.com
www.acento.com.do/index.php/news/117507/56/Nuria-denuncia-destituido-nuncio-Wesolowski-bebia-y-prostituia-ninos.html
www.acento.com.do/index.php/news/117895/56/Activista-pro-Estado-laico-dice-cupula-catolica-organizo-escape-de-nuncio.html