Juan Luis Cipriani issued a statement in which he expresses his discomfort after the pronouncement of the Presidency of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference and Cardinal Carlos Castillo after being accused of pedophilia.
In his message, Cipriani considered the statements against him unfair and reiterated his innocence again.
“They have been confused in this campaign to attempted harassment and destruction of my dignity and my honor”, Says Cipriani.
“I have not committed any crime or sexually abused anyone or in 1983, or before, or after”, He reaffirmed.
He also said that when he received the decree that limited his ecclesiastical faculties, “I signed it declaring in writing in the same act that the accusation was absolutely false and that would obey those provisions – as I have done – for the love of the Church and by communion with the Roman Pontiff. ”
“I have accepted preventive measures before the accusation received until the truth was clarified, although they have their origin in a false accusation, which I have not been able to defend“In addition,”In all these years I have always acted in communion with the Holy Father with whom. In addition to the obedience that I was taxed, I have a personal knowledge and affection for many years”, Continues.
“My faithful love to the Church remains unchanged, ”culminates Cipriani, who says that“ I have the affection of the majority of my brothers in faith, which with so much force have shown it these days, and of thousands of compatriots who, Neither the one nor the others have been confused in this campaign to attempt harass and destruction of my dignity and my honor”, He concludes.
Archbishopric of Lima supports Pope Francis and calls the truth against accusations against Cipriani
The Archbishopric of Lima, through a letter signed by Cardinal Carlos Castillo Mattasoglio, spoke on Monday regarding the recent statements of the director of the Vatican Press Office, Matteo Bruni, about the accusations against Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani.
In the statement, the archbishop of Lima expressed his solidarity with the victims of abuse within the Church and reiterated his support for Pope Francis and the canonical processes implemented by the Holy See.
Cardinal Castillo Mattasoglio began his message recognizing the “immense pain and suffering” experienced by victims of abuse, both within the Church and in society.
“Every ultra -fledged human being is a clamor of God to efforts personal and ecclesially to host and accompany, as well as stop and punish aggressions”he said.
In addition, he highlighted the work of the Vatican and the Pontiff in the prevention, investigation and sanction of crimes of abuse of consciousness, spiritual, sexual and power.
The Archbishop of Lima also referred to the recent investigations involving Cardinal Cipriani, although not to mention it directly.
“There are people and institutions that refuse to recognize the truth of the facts and decisions taken by the Holy See”he said. In that sense, he called on “conversion” and abandon the “vain justifications” and the “rejection of truth”, emphasizing that only the humble acceptance of this will allow to overcome the crisis facing the Church.
Castillo Mattasoglio reaffirmed his “determined and irreversible support” to Pope Francis, highlighting his commitment to justice and the protection of victims.
Finally, the Cardinal thanked journalists who have contributed to the protection of the victims and urged the faithful of Lima and Peru to reaffirm their faithfulness to Pope Francis and his ministry.
