The Society of Jesus is offering repairs to about 20 women who claim to have been sexually, psychologically and spiritually abused by Fr. Marko Rupnik, an artist and former Jesuit.
Rupnik is accused of having committed serious sexual, psychological and spiritual abuse against dozens of religious under their spiritual care for decades. His case is currently being investigated by the Vatican.
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Fr. Johan Versuchen, former Superior of Rupnik and current general counselor and delegate for the houses and interprovincial works of the Society of Jesus in Rome, said he sent a letter to the women who presented accusations against Rupnik, offering them an open invitation to repairs, according to Associated Press.
While the cards They were not made public Out of respect for the alleged victims, Laura Sgrò, lawyer of women, shared some extracts, according to Religion News Service.
In the letters, versuchen I would have lamented that Rupnik would not have publicly assumed the responsibility of their actions or regret. Declared Associated Press that in the letters invited to the alleged victims to share their needs and how the religious order could meet those needs.
Versuchen too I would have offered Start a “healing process” and shared that the Jesuit order is “uncomfortable” with the situation and aware that “the various types of violence suffered at that time are aggravated by the pain caused by the lack of listening and justice for many years.”
Sgrò thanked the Jesuits the repair gesture and asked to the Vatican in the statement that follows “the example of the Society of Jesus and takes Marko Rupnik as soon as possible, returning the dignity to the victims.”
“There can really be no more delay; you just have to do justice,” he said.
In the declaration of Sgrò, the alleged victims thanked Versuchen for “recognizing the mistakes made so far” and for “foster and embraced the victims of Marko Rupnik, offering them the support they had lacked so far.”
The Jesuits want to protect the privacy of the alleged victims and do not plan to share future information about dialogue, Versuchen told RNS.
“Any eventual path to repair will depend entirely on the person who was invited,” Versuchen told RNS.
“We wrote the letter because we also need repair and healing,” he continued. “We have a lot to learn from them and to improve in the future to avoid any type of abuse in the company of Jesus.”
“We have a lot to learn from them and do better in the future, to avoid any type of abuse in the Society of Jesus.”
Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in CNA.
Kate Quiñones
Kate Quiñones is a Catholic News Agency and Member of College Fix. It has publications on the Wall Street Journal, the Denver Catholic Register and Catholicvote. He graduated from Hillsdale College. Live in Colorado with her husband.