(Death, Heaven, Purgatory, Hell)
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
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Brazilian Cardinal Assails Sex-Abuse Report
Criticizes
Magazine Article as Calumny Against Priests
BRASILIA, Brazil, DEC. 18, 2005 (Zenit.org).-
The president of the Brazilian bishops' conference assailed as groundless a
magazine report that claims 1,700 priests in the country are involved in sexual
abuse.
Cardinal Geraldo Majilla Agnello, archbishop of San Salvador of Bahia,
criticized the report that appeared in ISTOÉ. Details of the magazine report
receive worldwide press attention.
"This grave declaration which is published as something proven is a calumnious
declaration, which moreover lacks any solid base," said the prelate.
In a letter to the editor of the magazine, the cardinal said: "Could it be that
the magazine and/or the author of the report don't know what a 'sexual crime'
is, and that it is a legal figure predicted by the legal code? To declare in a
magazine such as ISTOÉ that 10% of the Catholic clergy of Brazil is involved in
'sexual crimes,' without rightful proof, is a crime substantiated by the laws of
the country."
"In name of the bishops and priests of the Church in Brazil," he added, "I ask
that the directors of this magazine review these declarations, their sources
and, as well, the quality and accountability of these reports.
"If this cannot be done -- which is what I am sure will be the case -- let them
publicly correct the lie, because if not this lie will be repeated indefinitely
in the press and believed by everyone in the country, creating an enormous
prejudice against the thousands of priests who offer an inestimable religious
and social service to all parts of Brazil."
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