Cardinal Fernández: Judges for trial for sexual abuse of Rupnik have already been selected

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the doctrine of the Vatican’s faith, said Thursday that judges have already been selected for the trial of Fr. Marko Rupnik, former success accused of sexual abuse against women.

The cardinal told reporters that the chosen judges are “independent and external” to Dicastery, but did not indicate when the judgment of the Slovenian priest will be held in the Vatican.

“The idea was, if possible, to eliminate the idea that the Dicastery for the doctrine of faith or the Holy See had some interest or were subjected to pressures,” he said.

Rupnik, whose religious works can be found in sanctuaries and churches around the world, has been accused of at least a dozen women, mostly ex -religious, of sexual, psychological and spiritual abuse that would have happened during the last three decades.

In May 2019, the then congregation for the doctrine of faith initiated a criminal administrative process against Rupnik after Jesus’ company informed the Vatican about credible complaints of abuse by the priest.

A year later, the congregation declared Rupnik in a state of excommunication. “automatic”In May 2020. His excommunication lasted only two weeks.

Subsequently, the Society of Jesus expelled Rupnik from the religious order in June 2023 for his “stubborn negative to observe the vote of obedience.”

Since the accusations of abuse against Rupnik became public for the first time in 2018, several church leaders and Catholic groups around the world have increasingly requested the withdrawal of sacred art created by the exjejita.

On March 31, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France announced its decision to cover the Rupnik mosaics found in the entries of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary.

The Dicasterio for Communication, meanwhile, eliminated digital images of Rupnik’s art from its Vatican News website on June 9.

The changes occurred days after Pope Leo XIV met with members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors on June 5.

The Holy Father also met with Cardinal Sean O’Malley, president of the Vatican Agency in charge of the protection of vulnerable adults and children, during the first week of his pontificate, on May 14.

In June 2024, O’Malley sent a letter to the dicasteries of the Roman curia expressing his hope that “pastoral prudence” prevents “that works of art be shown in a way in which exoneration or subtle defense can be implied.”

“We have to avoid sending the message that the Holy See is foreign to the psychological anguish that many are suffering,” O’Malley wrote in a letter to the leaders of the Curia last year.

Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in CNA.