Controversial priest Rogelio Cruz has refused to leave for Colombia where he was sent to a priest renovation course in La Ceja. The priest has gone public saying he is being forced to resign the Salesian religious order. He said he feared for his safety in La Ceja and would not travel there.
The priest who is based in La Vega says his bosses are being pressed by influential mining sector persons. Cruz has opposed start of new mining operations in several communities.
Now, a report in Listin Diario reveals paternity reports and birth declarations made by Cruz. The special report by Ruddy L. González for Listín Diario, establishes that in several civil registration offices there are several birth declarations in favor of several children in which the priest appears as “biological father” in addition to declaring the birth.
This would not be a first, as other priests in the past, including Belgian priest Pierre Ruquoy, have been known to have declared several children in the border area for humanitarian reasons in order to expedite the legalizing of their status.
González reports that in a correspondence dated 15 January 2017 sent to Father Cruz by Father Francisco Batista, superior inspector of the Salesian Order, makes the point of the birth declarations. Also mentioned are other disciplinary issues related to the Fundación Padre Rogelio Cruz, absences from his religious commitments and to requests made by the inspector general office and related to remarks made by the priest that are said to be contrary to the church doctrine.
The Listin Diario story says that the Salesian Order process to remove Rogelio Cruz from the order began on 15 March 2018.
Read more in Spanish:
Listin Diario
19 March 2018
