American archbishop to oversee reform of Peru-based movement
May 16, 2016
Archbishop Joseph Tobin of Indianapolis, Indiana has been named by the Vatican to supervise the process of reform in the Sodality of Christian Life, a lay movement based that has been shaken by scandal.
Luis Fernando Figari, who founded the movement in Peru in 1971 and led the Sodality until he stepped down in 2011, has been accused of multiple charges of sexual abuse of members. Last month Alessandro Moroni Llabres, the group’s new leader, acknowledged Figari’s guilt and called for his "immediate separation from our community.”
Moroni welcomed the appointment of Archbishop Tobin, saying that the movement "reaffirms its decision of carry out a profound reform." The appointment came after an apostolic visitation of the Sodality conducted under the auspices of the Vatican's Congregation for Religious after an apostolic visitation -- of which Archbishop Tobin had been secretary before his appointment to the Indianapolis see.
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Further information:
- Indy archbishop tapped to lead reform in controversial sodality (CNA)
- Vatican: no decision yet on discipline for founder of Peru-based lay movement (CWN, 4/18)
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