1 of 1 Juan XXIII school in Cochabamba, Bolivia, in May 2023 Photo: Fernando Cartagena/AFP Juan XXIII school in Cochabamba, Bolivia, in May 2023 Photo: Fernando Cartagena/AFP
Bolivian prosecutors are investigating at least eight cases of pedophilia against Catholic priests, but the number of cases could increase.
The scandal drew widespread press attention in the country after society became aware of the sexual abuse of the late Spanish religious, Alfonso Pedrajas.
How did the allegations come about?
The Spanish newspaper El País published on April 30 the personal diary of Jesuit priest Alfonso Pedrajas, who died of cancer in Bolivia in 2009 at the age of 66.
A family member gave the diary to the newspaper. The text was written on a laptop and in it the priest says he has “harmed many people (85?), too many people”. In addition, he recognized that he was protected by higher ministers of the Society of Jesus.
Pedrajas settled in Bolivia in 1971 and did educational work in various places. Most abuses were committed at the João XXIII school in the city of Cochabamba in the center of the country.
The boarding school John XXIII. took in minors from rural areas with little economic means and boasted of a high level of education.
Hilarión Baldivieso of the alumni association of this educational center confirmed the abuses at a press conference and said that they denounce the coverup of the cases by the Jesuits, who knew about Pedrajas’ activities.
How many complaints are there in court?
Following the scandal sparked by the press releases, at least eight reports of alleged abuses by religious were received by the Bolivian State Ministry.
Attorney General Juan Lanchipa said the complaints were filed in the cities of La Paz, Cochabamba, Tarija and Santa Cruz.
In addition to Pedrajas, the accused also include the late Spanish priests Luis María Roma, Alejandro Mestre and Antonio Gausset. Other defendants are still alive.
Some of the denunciations were made by the Society of Jesus itself.
Lanchipa expressed concern at “the negligence shown by this Catholic organization in not denouncing these events and instead providing cover and protection for these monstrous events.”
Are there other cases of abuse?
Former Jesuit priest Pedro Lima said last Friday that sexual abuse had been committed not only against minors but also against Jesuits in training.
Lima said he was expelled from the Society of Jesus in 2001 for reporting abuses within the order and recently returned to Bolivia from Paraguay to join allegations in the Pedrajas case.
According to the former minister, “Among the victims are former Jesuits who were trained by this individual. In short, he not only abused students, but also Jesuits in training.”
Legal adviser to the Bolivian Bishops’ Conference, Susana Inch, said 12 complaints against priests had been received since 2019, when an internal commission was set up to investigate the cases.
According to an investigation by the Bolivian newspaper Página Siete, there have been more than 170 victims.
Last week Father Milton Murillo was arrested on suspicion of rape, while Father Garvin Grech fled to Argentina on similar charges.
Following the whirlwind of cases, leftwing President Luis Arce sent a letter to Pope Francis on Monday evening asking for access to all cases and files related to pedophilia in Bolivia.
In addition, he said his country reserves the right to receive priests if they have complaints and that his government will try to sign a new relationship agreement with the Vatican.
What is the Church’s position?
A few days after the revelations about Pedrajas’ diary, the Bolivian Bishops’ Conference expressed its regret.
“As a church we condemn these acts, we stand in solidarity with the victims who have suffered sexual abuse, we ask for forgiveness,” he said in a statement.
The Society of Jesus has also indicated that it will make all cases known to the court available.
The Bolivian Church has confirmed the visit of Spanish priest Jordi Bertomeu, seconded by the Vatican, to deal with the problem of sexual abuse in the country.