Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta is accused of sexually abusing two seminarians. The seminarians also say he mismanaged the diocese's finances and abused his power.

The bishop was criminally charged in June and could be imprisoned for three to 10 years if he is convicted.

He has been suspended from his position at the Vatican's central bank where Francis appointed him as an "assessor" in 2017.

Argentinian prosecutors have complained Zanchetta failed to respond to repeated emails and telephone calls about the abuse allegations.

The Vatican's apparent protection of Zanchetta has angered prosecutors.

"Despite being suspended from ministry, the Vatican has argued that Zanchetta's ‘daily work' requires him to be in Rome instead of facing trial in Argentina," says Zach Hiner.

Hiner is the executive director of victims' pressure group SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

"This decision is at best questionable and at worst a Vatican-sponsored opportunity for him to flee from justice," he added.

"If Pope Francis was serious about his "all-out battle" against cases of clergy abuse, he would order Zanchetta to return to Argentina and face the allegations against him."

However, Zanchetta's spokesman is criticising the Argentine prosecutors, saying releasing information about the case hurts his image and his presumption of innocence.

Spokesman Javier Belda says Zanchetta is not rebelling by not responding to calls or messages.

Rather, he says Zanchetta has cooperated with judicial authorities throughout the case.

Zanchetta's situation became public just as Francis made an impassioned speech in Bangkok last week on behalf of victims of sex trafficking.

However, Anne Barrett Doyle, of BishopAccountability.org, says: "It's vital that Pope Francis ensures Zanchetta's full cooperation with Argentine civil authorities."

"To do otherwise would put the Pope in violation of his own decree forbidding conduct by bishops that interferes with civil investigations."

"Francis must begin to set an example - especially because his protectiveness toward Zanchetta to date already raises disturbing questions about his commitment to ending complicity by Church officials."

"Francis should not have given Zanchetta safe harbour in the first place, given the bishop's reported wrongdoing in Argentina."

An Argentinian prosecutor of sexual crimes is asking for international assistance in Zanchetta's arrest.

Source

• Catholic News Agency
• The Telegraph
• AP
• Image: Rome Reports

At least 21 priests have been convicted, charged or sued for sexual offences in the diocese.

The diocese has paid counselling bills for years because, when it first started settling lawsuits against its priests, it refused to pay lump sums for counselling to victims.

Instead, the diocese insisted the church look after their care, lawyer Rob Talach says.

That worked well when the diocese was paying psychologists $250 an hour - similar to the rate suggested in 2015 on the Ontario Psychological Association website.

However, after Fr John Comiskey was named as a bishop's delegate and moderator of the curia to administer the funding, the rate reduced to $120 an hour.

At the same time, former victims were granted five additional counselling sessions.

Payment for additional treatment would be considered after psychologists submit assessments about each patient and how much longer they would require therapy.

One former victim, who was abused by a priest as a child and later created the first Canadian chapter of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, says the new rules are a "disgrace."

Victims might find a therapist willing to provide care for $120 an hour, but not one with the specialised knowledge and experience needed to help those sexually abused by priests, she says.

In a written statement, the diocese says:

"In line with the expectations of the College of Psychologists of Ontario, the diocese seeks to ensure that any of the victims will receive only evidence-based treatments.

"In addition, the Diocese of London seeks to assure that the duration and frequency of treatments are also in accord with the guidelines set by the same college.

"The diocese takes sexual abuse seriously and is complying with its legal settlements reached with victims.

"Sexual misconduct is a sin and a grave tragedy.

"We choose to respond with justice and compassion toward all those persons involved.

"The Diocese of London continues to meet its legal obligations to victims as set out in settlements."

Comiskey believes the level of funding for victims of sexual abuse by the church has not changed.

"The only changes that we have made is that we have asked those who are giving counselling for complainants and those who have received settlements from us that they're going to be using evidence-based counselling," he says.

"We are asking in advance for a protocol."

"We have a right to know what the fees are going to be and that we agree on those fees and services before those services are provided," Comiskey said.

Source

• CBA
• The Sudbury Star.com
• Image: Vancouver Sun