Jesuit official defends Vatican prosecutor

November 26, 2014

A top American Jesuit has come to the defense of Father Robert Geisinger, the Vatican’s top prosecutor in sex-abuse cases, after the Boston Globe disclosed that Father Geisinger was involved in the case of a notorious Jesuit abuser.

Father Timothy Kesicki, the president of the US Jesuit Conference, said that Father Geisinger was not in a position of authority over Donald McGuire. Later, as a canon lawyer working in Rome, he had advised Jesuit officials of the Chicago province on the disciplinary handling of McGuire, who was eventually expelled from the Society of Jesus and laicized after his conviction on sex-abuse charges.

Writing for GetReligion, Dawn Eden summarizes what the Globe story did and did not prove, concluding that the documentary record raises questions about Father Geisinger but does not demonstrate any wrongdoing.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Top US Jesuit defends Vatican sex prosecutor (AP)
• Boston Globe story on Vatican prosecutor's alleged failure to report abuse leaves unanswered questions (GetReligion)
• Vatican's new top prosecutor was involved in notorious abuse case, Boston Globe finds (CWN, 11/24)