By the A.M.
Costa Rica staff
The Archdiocese of San
José*, which is the head of
the Catholic Church in Costa Rica,
confirmed that a priest of the
church of Santo Domingo de
Heredia*, surnamed
Guevara-Fonseca, was sanctioned for
alleged sexual abuse of a child.
"The Archdiocese of San José,
informed (the public) that presbyter
Guevara-Fonseca, who was the priest
of the Church of Santo Domingo in
Heredia, has been removed from that
parish. This decision responds to a
precautionary measure due to the
fact that there is a Canonic
complaint against him for alleged
inappropriate behavior in relation
to a minor," said the Church's
statement.
On provide more information about
the complaint, the archdiocese said
that it could not do so. "With
respect to the complaint and the
investigation (we) will not give
more information in relation to this
case. The Archdiocese of San José is
in a commitment to investigate the
truth on any complaint," said the
church's statement.
The administration of the church of
Santo Domingo de
Heredia* confirmed that the
congregation was informed about the
departure of the priest on February
23rd, with the following statement:
"Dear brothers and sisters: Father
Guevara is no longer in a priest of
Santo Domingo, he has left to attend
personal responsibilities. He is
grateful for the fraternal
experience of the Domingüeña
community (referring to the members
of the Church of Santo Domingo). He
asks to be excused for the abrupt
departure, but it could not be
otherwise. He appreciates everyone's
understanding. And he manifests the
blessing that was the community for
him, where his health has become
broken. But with the support of
everybody that has given to him the
courage necessary to move forward.
He says goodbye asking us to have
him in our prayers."
The church made the decision to
sanction the priest after learning
about the criminal complaint that
was filed February 25 before the
Criminal Court of Guadalupe in San
José.
As A.M. Costa Rica reported
yesterday, Jason Granados spokesman
of Costa Rican Catholic Church,
known as Metropolitan Curia, the
Clerical State in the Vatican
sentenced to a man, surnamed
Víquez-Lizano, to the maximum
sanction imposed by the church in
cases such as pedophilia. He has
been expelled from the Clerical
State.
Granados said that the resolution,
issued on February 25, 2019, reads:
"Imposed to the Reverend Víquez
Lizano, priest of the Archdiocese of
San José, the perpetual and
expiatory sentence of expulsion from
the Clerical State."
In the case of now former Father
Víquez-Lizano, nine complaints have
been filed for alleged sexual abuse
against minors and one criminal
complaint for alleged violation of a
minor.
Statistics of the last ten years,
reported Mr. Granados, show there
have been more cases in which the
Catholic Church has investigated
priests for complaints related to
sexual abuse.
"In eight cases, the suspects were
sentenced with canonical punishment.
In seven cases the suspects have
been punished with the resignation
and expulsion from the Clerical
State. In one case, the suspect was
sentenced not to hold parish
offices. There are still 8 cases
under investigation. In one more
case the suspect was dismissed by
the authorities in Rome and in one
case the suspect was dismissed right
at the investigation stage. One last
case was closed because of the
priest dead," said Granados.
|
A.M.
Costa Rica wire
services photo
The Archdiocese of San
José, informed
that presbyter
Guevara-Fonseca,
has been removed from
that parish.
Regarding to the
position of the
Catholic Church in the
specific case of
former priest
Víquez-Lizano, Mr.
Granado said that "he
must face the case and
surrender to the
authorities."
The Vatican sentence
can be appealed. To
appeal, former priest
Víquez-Lizano has 60
days to file. "If in
60 days he does not
file an appeal then
that sentence will
unappealable," said
Granados.
According to Granados,
Catholic Church
officials could not
find Víquez-Lizano to
notify him about the
Vatican resolution.
As A.M. Costa Rica
reported on Feb. 21, a
judge in the Desamparados
city court*
requested an
international arrest
warrant for
Víquez-Lizano, who is
charged with the
sexual abuse of two
children in 2003.
The suspect is being
investigated for the
alleged rape of two
men surnamed Rodríguez
and Venegas who were
minors in 2003.
According to the
Prosecutor's Office
of Desamparados
city court*,
the case was
elevated so that it
could involve an
international arrest
order with the
Interpol.
The Prosecutor's
Office of Gender,
which is the
judicial
organization where
victims of sexual
crimes are defended,
said they cannot
give any more
details about the
case due to
restrictions by
Article #295 of the
Criminal Procedure
Code. This article
defines that when a
case is in the
evidence collection
phase, the
information is
private.
The press office of
the Catholic Church
confirmed that the
paperwork had
already been done at
the internal level
of the organization,
and that the
ex-priest had been
asked to appear
before the
prosecution and face
the case.
Auxiliary bishop
Daniel Blanco, of
the Archdiocese of
San José, said, "the
Church has not put,
or will put, any
obstacle to this
process. We ask Mr.
Víquez-Lizano to
surrender to the
authorities."
According to the
record of departures
of the General
Directorate of
Migration,
Víquez-Lizano left
the country on
January 7, 2019.
-------
Is the
church complicit for not
reporting priests
directly when they are
suspected of committing
sexual crimes? We
would like to know your
thoughts on this story.
Send your comments to: news@amcostarica.com
*Link to
reach the place location
on map.
|
