Eagerly awaited – ordered by the pope: Abuse victims' interviews in Chile continue despite special investigator's illness. Those affected draw a first, positive conclusion.
As if the atmosphere were not already tense enough, the politically and ecclesiastically eagerly awaited questioning of abuse victims in Chile has now been joined by a minor health drama: The Vatican special investigator Archbishop Charles Scicluna, who was sent to Chile to clarify cover-up allegations against Bishop Juan Barros, is absent due to gall bladder surgery that became necessary at short notice and will probably have to stay in bed until the weekend. But the Vatican acted quickly: a spokesman for the Chilean Bishops' Conference said that at Pope Francis' request, the scheduled talks should go ahead as planned.
Bertomeu: Scicluna's confidant
In place of Maltese Scicluna, his associate, Spanish cleric and lawyer Jordi Bertomeu (49), will now take over the questioning. Spanish media report Bertomeu has traveled to almost all Latin American countries in recent years to inform the bishops' conferences there about the Vatican's zero-tolerance strategy for abuse cases.
As late as Tuesday, Scicluna had tried to keep to the ambitious schedule. But interlocutors were not unaware of the Maltese's condition. "He was very reticent," reported abuse victim James Hamilton. On Wednesday, Bertomeu then took over the talks – and apparently hit the right tone. It is very gratifying that persons of the Church have finally begun to invite the victims and listen to their experiences, Juan Andres Murillo said after his interview, according to the channel CNN Chile. "To feel listened to in a trusting environment gives us the impression that we are in a serious process," Murillo said. Now there must be further progress – and also consequences.
Meanwhile, Juan Carlos Claret, spokesman for the Osorno lay organization whose Bishop Juan Barros is at the center of the cover-up allegations, announced he would give the special investigators 1.To hand over 500 pages of incriminating material about Barros and other bishops.
At the same time, Claret announced he would speak exclusively to Vatican investigators. His organization would not allow any interference from a Chilean bishop or the nuncio.
Scicluna had been sent by Pope Francis to the U.S. and Chile to speak with victims of sexual abuse there. Specifically at ie is whether Bishop Barros, a former protege of abuser Fernando Karadima, knew of his acts and kept them quiet. Scicluna's return to Europe was originally scheduled for as early as this Friday. There he should report to the pope.
Return delayed
To what extent the return will be delayed is still unclear. Normally, patients are reportedly unable to resume work for more than a week after gallbladder surgery. Francis had defended Bishop Barros, whom he appointed, during his trip to Chile, saying he had no "evidence" that he knew of sexual abuse by Karadima.
For this the pope reaped partly heavy criticism. Soon after, the Vatican announced that Scicluna, an experienced investigator, would travel to Chile.
On the outbound flight, Scicluna had already met with another victim in the U.S., Juan Cruz. According to media reports, the latter had already had indications of Barros' complicity handed over to the pope in 2015. It remains unclear whether he actually read the notices.