The group, Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, which operates in seven Latin American countries and has communities in the archdioceses of Denver and Philadelphia, was subject to a Vatican investigation in 2023 for alleged abuses.

In a letter from the apostolic nunciature in Peru posted on the Peruvian bishops' conference website on Sept 25, the Vatican announced the expulsion of the ten members, including the former superior general, a retired archbishop and three other priests.

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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

The organisation originates from Peru and has a much stronger presence there than in Europe.

With around 20,000 male members who, whether priests or not, live celibate lives and take vows, the "Sodalicio" is one of the medium-sized specialised communities in the Catholic Church. It is larger than most classical religious communities but smaller and less widespread than Opus Dei or the Neocatechumenals.

The fact that the founder, Luis Fernando Figari, has now been formally expelled from the community he founded by a legal act of the Vatican Dicastery for Religious Orders has more symbolic value than practical consequences. This is because the community itself had already de facto expelled him in 2014 and declared him "persona non grata" in its institutions in 2016.

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The decree against Luis Fernando Figari came after Pope Francis last year ordered an investigation into the Sodalitium by the Vatican's top sex abuse experts to get to the bottom of the scandal. Previous commissions and investigations had failed to fully address the group's problems.

According to the decree by the Vatican's department for religious orders, which was posted on the website of the Peruvian bishops conference, Francis gave his explicit authorisation to expel Figari from the movement, even though canon law didn't precisely cover his alleged misconduct.

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The villagers claim they are facing attempts to seize their land by companies associated with a prominent South American church organisation.

The villagers, part of the San Juan Bautista de Catacaos farmers community in northern Peru, allege they have been targeted through legal actions and dubious land titling methods.

In a recorded video message from the Vatican, Pope Francis addressed the villagers in Spanish.

He expressed solidarity with their plight.

He urged them to hold on to their land, saying "I know what happened to you. Defend your land and don't let them steal it".

Controversial lay group

The controversy concerns the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, a lay group with various interests including education, spirituality and business ventures.

Founded in Peru in 1971, the group has faced allegations of sexual abuse by its founder and leaders, prompting investigations and scrutiny into its activities.

The Vatican dispatched a commission to investigate the Sodalitium's actions, particularly regarding allegations of financial impropriety and abuse.

During their visit to Peru, the investigators met with members of the Catacaos community.

The group claim that the Sodalitium is attempting to claim ownership of over 1900 hectares (4,000 acres) of land they have cultivated for generations.

The Catacaos community allege the Sodalitium is using fraudulent documents and legal harassment.

Defenders of their land

The Peruvian villagers, who commemorate their community's 466th anniversary this year, received the Pope's message with gratitude.

Marcelino Ynga, the community's leader, expressed hope for a swift resolution from the Vatican regarding the Sodalitium's status.

Carlos Rodriguez, the community's lawyer, interpreted the Pope's message as acknowledgement and support for the villagers' struggle.

"These farmers are not delinquents" he said. "They are defenders of their land."

As the legal battle over the land dispute continues in Peruvian courts, Pope Francis's intervention adds moral weight to the villagers' cause.

It also highlights social justice, land rights and the role of religious institutions in local communities.

Sources

AP News

Latin Post

National Catholic Reporter

CathNews New Zealand

An investigation into allegations of sexual and psychological abuse committed by Luis Fernando Figari,who also founded the order, found him unsuitable to run the order.

Accusations against Figari were first lodged in 2011.

The investigation found Figari, during his many years as Superior General adopted an "excessively or improperly authoritarian [government], directed to impose one's own will, not willing to accept any form of dialogue and fraternal and sincere confrontation."

It also found he was not "sensitive to the convictions and demands of others, and therefore not prone to understand, appreciate and accept, even partially, opinions different from his own."

In addition, Figari made his brothers obey him by using "improper strategies and methods of persuasion ... underhanded, arrogant and nonetheless violent and disrespectful of the right to the inviolability of one's own interiority and discretion, and therefore to the freedom of the human person to independently discern the proposals or decisions."

Sodalitium Christianae Vitae is a Society of Apostolic Life based in Peru.

It is made up of laymen and priests who live in community as brothers, and have fully given their lives to God, proclaiming the Gospel in the diverse circumstances of human life. It was Pontifically approved by St. John Paul II in 1997.

Source

• Crux
• Sodalitium Christianae Vitae
• Image: Peru21