The Vatican is examining complaints against the SCV that include sexual and psychological abuse and financial malpractice.

The SCV is using media to discredit critics. Some supporters have threatened individual complainants and their families.

Nun discredited

Sister Lucía Caram OP faced the Catholic group's aggression could be when she posted a comment on X addressed to Alejandro Bermúdez, who is a journalist and SCVs longstanding public face, .

Caram's post indicated her support for the Vatican for expelling SCV founder and former leader Luis Fernando Figari from the order in August.

She also accused Bermúdez of having defamed, attacked and destroyed victims and asked if he would now deny his ties to the Catholic group.

Bermúdez replied, saying "Enjoy this heretic nun's charitable gem" and calling her a "malignant and horrible woman".

Many of his followers posted insults to Caram.

On 20 August Bermúdez published a podcast against Caram, making more attacks on her.

The SCV itself had demanded Figari's expulsion six years ago, he claimed. His expulsion shouldn't lead Caram to "rejoice in evil".

Bermúdez says the SCV critics "have no faith" and intend to destroy the organisation.

Victimising victims

Dr Rocio Figueroa, a former member of the Catholic group and an abuse survivor, told Crux most members are more diplomatic than Caram and some fear the press.

"Bermúdez shows the true face of the organisation, a reflection of how they think and how they act that can be seen without filters."

Figueroa is now a lecturer in Systematic Theology at Good Shepherd College in Auckland and an External Researcher at the Centre for Theology and Public Issues at Otago University, In 2011 she spoke out against the SCV.

What happened next piled abuse on abuse.

She says the whole community turned against her, insisted the abuse was her fault and tried to discredit her and her denunciation.

They think the measures against them are being taken "because they have enemies in the Church and in the press, not due to their faults. They're unable to question themselves".

Despite rumours about large financial compensation, Figueroa says none of the six accusers have received any form of compensation or indemnity until now.

Jose Enrique Escardó, who was the first victim to publicly accuse SCV of crimes in 2000 told Crux that, besides being accused of wanting to "destroy the Church", he and his daughter have suffered threats of torture and death.

Authors Pedro Salinas and Paula Ugaz who have written about SCV have been accused of "absurd crimes and face lawsuits".

They say they believe the SCV is behind the judicial measures.

The lawsuits against SCV members are progressing slowly, and its major leaders are being kept "out of risk" Salinas claims.

Source

• Crux Now

Father Seungbok Lee's actions have won applause from individuals and groups supporting same-sex couples' rights.

Two sets of female same-sex couples - Yeon Yeon and Yoon Hae, and Chris and Ari - are full of praise for Lee and the Catholic Church for their public blessing.

Other same-sex couples should feel encouraged to do the same Yeon says.

In line with the Vatican's guidelines, the blessing took place after Mass had been celebrated.

The Catholic group Arcus (Latin for "rainbow") arranged the Mass. The group, with the Archdiocese of Seoul's backing, was founded last May to offer support to LGBTQ people.

They were at the Mass to support the couple - as well as nuns and six priests from various parishes.

Being recognised

Both couples say the blessing has helped them feel like part of the Catholic community.

Chris and Ari, who had married in Canada in 2013, say "the fact that the two of us were blessed together is meaningful in itself.

"Receiving the blessing is a big step forward, but I feel that there are still mountains to overcome.

"I think it will take more time for social changes such as legalising same-sex marriage" Chris adds.

Yeon feels much the same way, saying "Tears continued to flow as I listened to the prayer during the blessing. I felt like my existence was being acknowledged for the first time.

"As a sexual minority couple, I felt like I was not even recognised for myself."

She also hopes the Church will formally approve same-sex marriages in the future.

Authority to bless same-sex and unmarried couples

The same-sex blessings followed the guidelines set out in a new document, Fiducia Supplicans (Supplicating Trust).

The Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith published Fiducia - which Pope Francis formally authorised - on 18 December last year.

The document clears the way for Catholic priests to bless a same-sex or other unmarried couple.

However, it also says same-sex couple blessings cannot be formal liturgical blessings. Nor may they give the impression that the Church is blessing these unions as if they were a marriage.

Fiducia has not changed the Church's accepted definition of marriage, which must be between a man and a woman.

Rather, the document provides for only an informal and spontaneous blessing between same-sex or unmarried couples. This blessing is neither a sacrament nor a rite of the Catholic church, Fiducia says.

Source

• UCA News