Investigations by women’s support groups have come up with proof that priest Juan Manuel de Jesus Mota (Father Johnny) used another name to register at a Puerto Plata resort with underage girls when they had been invited to another activity in La Vega, as reported in El Caribe. The Constanza church priest has denied any wrongdoing, as reported in El Caribe.
The groups that are backing the women are Coordinadora Mujeres del Cibao, Movimiento Feminista Hermanas Mirabal, Nucleo de Apoyo a la Mujer, Fundacion Mujer Iglesia and Casa Abierta. The groups say the priest has the right to a defense, but not to discredit the witnesses by saying that the accusations are made by people seeking to discredit the church and who are campaigning for legal abortion. Campaigner Raquel Rivera says that some of the women were only 14 and 16 years old when the priest allegedly abused them. She warned that the accusations would not be withdrawn. El Caribe reports that the Bishop of La Vega has not made any comments on the topic.
www.elcaribe.com.do/2013/09/03/cura-dio-nombre-falso-para-llevar-menores-resort