Argentine bishop says he’ll return to face sex allegations
Posted November 23, 2019 3:28 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — An Argentine bishop close to Pope Francis says he’ll return voluntarily to Argentina to respond to prosecutors’ accusations of sex abuse.
The canon law lawyer for Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta issued a statement Saturday that the monsignor will return to Argentina on Monday and will fully co-operate with authorities.
Attorney Javier Belda Iniesta also noted that Argentine judges had denied prosecution requests for an international arrest warrant.
Zanchetta has been formally accused of “aggravated continuous sexual abuse” of two seminarians, charges that carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. He has denied the charges.
The Zanchetta case is particularly grave for Francis, given the pope was aware of allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour by his onetime protege two years before Zanchetta resigned from his Argentine post.
The Associated Press
