Regarding this case, the SCV indicated that the then Father José Antonio Eguren presided over the SJB civil association until April 27, 2001, the date on which he resigned as an associate of said institution, “that is, more than 11 years before.” of the acquisition of lands in Castilla and Cura Mori, in Piura.”
“He had no relationship or participation in the purchase of land in San Juan Bautista in Piura and nor does he have any police, prosecutor or judicial complaint for usurpation or land trafficking. Bishop Eguren was named Auxiliary Bishop of Lima in 2002 and later in 2006, Archbishop of Piura,” the institution added.
Leader of the San Juan Bautista community responds to Pope Francis
In response to support message of Pope Francis on Saturday, April 13, Marcelino Ynga Ynga, leader of the San Juan Bautista peasant community and one of the main complainants, thanked the Pontiff and asked that the case of the land in Catacaos, Piura be clarified.
“Holy Father, I want to emphasize that the organization to which Mr. Antonio Eguren belonged has sold us our community lands, lands that we own. Dear and most esteemed Holy Father, we inform you that the San Juan (Bautista) organization has sold us our lands. We hope that you will soon give us a result regarding this act carried out by the organization,” he indicated in a video message spread by Paola Ugaz.
Ynga Ynga, according to cited police sources in October 2023 According to the Peruvian media Panamericana, he would belong to the “Cruz Blanca Livestock Association”, an organization accused of land invasion and extortion in Piura. According to the media, Ynga Ynga has seven criminal complaints, one of them for the crime of usurpation.
However, the OMCT and the CNDDHH have denounced previously that community members like Ynga Ynga and other peasants “have suffered various attacks that remain unpunished, which demonstrates the different treatment that the Peruvian justice system offers to those who defend rights related to land and territory depending on whether “They are criminalized or victims of attacks.”
The Sodalicio Case
The Sodalicio de Vida Cristiana is a society of lay apostolic life founded in Peru in 1971 by the also layman Luis Fernando Figari. It is currently present in several countries.
Since 2015, the SCV has faced public accusations of sexual abuse and power, mainly from Figari, after the publication of the book Half monks, half soldiersby journalists Pedro Salinas and Paola Ugaz.
During these years, the Vatican has appointed a delegate, an apostolic commissioner and an assistant commissioner, and three pontifical delegates to investigate and renew the Sodalitium.
On February 10, 2017 it was announced that the Holy See sanctioned Figari for his authoritarian behavior and for actions considered “contrary to the VI Commandment.” Among the sanctions imposed is the prohibition of returning to Peru and maintaining contact with any member of the society of apostolic life.
In July 2023, the Vatican mission made up of Bishops Scicluna and Bishops Bertomeu arrived in Peru to investigate the complaints against the Sodalicio.
And in mid-March 2024, the SCV confirmed to ACI Prensa that it has received letters from the Vatican with instructions to open investigations into some of its members.
“The Scicluna-Bertomeu Special Mission has given us specific guidelines to open investigation processes to six Sodalites,” said Daniel Calderón, general communications assistant of the SCV. He added that “none of them currently participate in the General Government of the Sodalicio.”