Italian prosecutors reject claims of Roman clerical-pedophile ring

June 28, 2013

An Italian ex-priest who claimed that he could expose a ring of clerical pedophiles in Rome has been charged with slander, as prosecutors evidently suspect that he concocted the charges to embarrass the Church.

Patrizzio Poggi, who served 5 years of an 8-year sentence on sex-abuse charges, had told reporters that he could identify 20 priests who were involved in child prostitution. But prosecutors said he could not substantiate the claims, and charged that his reports were “motivated by personal feelings of resentment.” Poggi allegedly became enraged with Church officials who did not defend him against the criminal charges that led to his conviction and imprisonment.

 

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Further information:

• Denunciato per calunnia don Poggi?«svelò» presunti casi di pedofilia in Curia (Corriere della Sera)
• Italian prosecutors investigating reports of clerical pedophile ring in Rome (CWN, 6/26)