Vatican dismisses abuse charge against Puerto Rican bishop

April 14, 2014

The Vatican has dismissed sex-abuse charges made against a Puerto Rican bishop.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith examined a complaint against Bishop Daniel Fernandez Torres of Arecibo, and closed the case, Church officials announced. Bishop Fernandez had charged that the complaint was filed against him as an act of revenge, because of his own aggressive investigation of sex-abuse complaints against local clergy.

Since he became Bishop of Arecibo in 2010-- inheriting a situation that he has said “was not the most positive—Bishop Fernandez has dismissed six priests from ministry. He remains locked in a legal battle with law-enforcement officials, who have won a court order calling for the diocese to release internal documents on abuse complaints.

 

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Further information:

• Vatican Clears Puerto Rico Bishop in Abuse Case (AP)
• Report: US investigating clerical abuse in Puerto Rico; bishop accused (CWN, 3/12)