Ex-Vatican envoy to stand trial over child abuse
The former Vatican ambassador to the Dominican Republic is set to go on trial in the Holy See over accusations of sexually abusing children.
Jozef Wesolowski will face a criminal court later on Saturday in connection with allegations of possessing pornographic material on his computer and sexually abusing minors during his 2008-2013 stint as the Vatican nuncio in the Dominican capital city of Santo Domingo.
"These serious allegations will be scrutinized by the competent judicial body,” the Vatican said in a statement released ahead of the trial, adding, “This will be a delicate and detailed procedure, requiring the most careful observations and insights from all parties involved in the trial.”
The 66-year-old ex-Polish archbishop was unfrocked in June last year after a Church tribunal found that he had abused children while living in the Dominican Republic.
He was later placed under house arrest in the Vatican rather than in jail due to health reasons.
Wesolowski faces imprisonment of up to seven years if convicted and possibly longer prison terms in case of aggravating circumstances.
The case marks the first time a Vatican court will hear abuse charges against a former Church official.
The Roman Catholic Church has been hit by numerous scandals in the US and Europe over the past few years, involving allegations of cover-ups and protection of pedophile priests.
The Vatican has defrocked hundreds of priests and punished thousands more for abuse offences over the last decade.
The leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, declared back in March that there should be “zero tolerance” against perpetrators of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church.
Elected in March 2013, the Argentine pontiff also pledged more action in response to accusations of cover-ups and excessive leniency by the Vatican for clergy who are accused of sexual crimes.
However, rights groups representing abuse victims believe that not enough has been done in that regard.
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