Archbishop Roberto Gonzalez Nieves of San Juan has not confirmed that he has been asked to step down as leader of the Catholic Church in the United States island territory.

But, after local Catholics held a rally of support for him, he asked them instead to pray for him.

The Vatican has apparently accused Archbishop Gonzalez Nieves of several offences, including protecting paedophile priests, abusing his power, and promoting Puerto Rican independence from the US.

A Puerto Rican radio station has released the leaked text of a letter from the archbishop to Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for Bishops.

In it the archbishop said he will not willingly step down. He denied the accuracy of complaints against him, saying he was profoundly offended and hurt by the gravity of the accusations, and asked for evidence to back them up.

"It caused me great dismay, first, because they were false and distorted, and second, because it seemed that my guilt was prejudged," he said. "In fact, it's not clear if these accusations are final and if so, what investigation prompted them."

Supporters of Archbishop Gonzalez charge that the charges against him are politically motivated and have accused a cardinal and a former Puerto Rican governor of being behind the allegations.

He has also been defended by non-Catholics. Church of God Bishop Naphtali Rodriguez Marrero of San Juan called him an "extraordinary" pastoral leader, and addded that he, too, blames "political and religious opponents who do not share his views".

Archbishop Gonzalez Nieves, who was born in the US, is aged 62 — 13 years below the normal retirement age for bishops.

Sources:

Associated Press

NewsMax

Image: Abyssum

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