Spanish

Child abuse is a pest that needs to be eradicated from within the Church and society in general. But this also requires ending the cover-up culture within the Catholic Church and its institutions.

As members of a beautiful church such as the Catholic Church, members of the Regnum Christi Federation and Friends, we formally request that the priests Eloy Bedia, Evaristo Sada, Luis Garza, Ricardo Sada, and Emilio Diaz-Torre refrain from their right to participate in the General Chapter of the Legionaries of Christ that is celebrated in Rome this coming week.

Although these priests have been chosen to participate by members of their religious congregation, they are subject to an investigation for hiding information and not proceeding properly regarding the conduct of child molester Fernando Martínez. The fact that they go to the chapter re-victimizes the victims and all of us who want truth and justice.

According to the norms published by Pope Francis in the Motu Proper VOS ESTIS LUX MUNDI, of May 7, 2019, sexual abuse cover-ups are also subject to the application of the new norms (Title 1, Art. 1 Scope of application):

1. These rules apply in the case of reports relating to the clergy or members of Institutes of Consecrated Life or Societies of Apostolic Life in relation to:

"conduct carried out by the subjects consisting of actions or omissions aimed at interfering with or circumventing civil or canonical, administrative or criminal investigations, against a cleric or a religious regarding crimes against the sixth commandment of the Decalogue [consisting of]: "[title 1 art. 1 B)]

"i. compel someone, with violence or threat or through abuse of authority, to perform or suffer sexual acts;
ii. perform sexual acts with a minor or with a vulnerable person;
iii. produce, exhibit, possess or distribute, including by telematic means, child pornographic material, as well as to detain or induce a minor or a vulnerable person to participate in pornographic exhibitions "[title 1 art. 1 (a)]

The General Chapter is the highest level of government within a religious congregation. Therefore the resignation of these priests is not only a gesture but an important and necessary step to change the culture of concealment that has existed so far within the congregation of the Legionaries of Christ.

Original Petition in Spanish (Started in Mexico)