Pope Leo XIV Faced Church Abuse Scandal‍ in Peru Before Ascension

Lima – Years before becoming Pope Leo​ XIV, the then-Bishop Robert Prevost confronted a meaningful abuse scandal within the ​Catholic Church in Peru, involving the influential society Sodalicio de Vida Cristiana (SCV).

The SCV, a powerful Catholic society with ties‍ to Peru’s elite, faced accusations of abuse for years. The scandal intensified ​in 2015,​ a year after Prevost’s appointment⁤ as bishop in Chiclayo. A book co-authored by victim Pedro Salinas ⁣and journalist Paola ugaz, titled “Half Monks, Half Soldiers,” detailed alleged abuse, humiliation,⁤ and sexual aggression against 30 anonymous victims.

Sources, including survivors in ‍Peru and a Vatican insider‍ familiar ‌with the case, told news outlets that Leo XIV’s eventual intervention, following a pivotal‌ 2019 meeting and a subsequent promotion in Rome, was instrumental in prompting the Church to take decisive action.

A Secret Brotherhood Unveiled

Oscar Osterling, who joined the SCV in 1992, saeid he was instructed to keep his oath of loyalty secret from his parents, an element of secrecy that appealed to him as a young man. He remained ⁢with the SCV for over two decades, leaving only after the initial accusations surfaced.

Founded in 1971 in Peru, the SCV⁤ originated as a lay group with a political​ aim: to⁤ counter the rise of ​liberation theology in Latin america, a movement advocating for⁣ the poor. The society controlled communities and religious schools, primarily serving Peru’s elite.

At its peak, the SCV boasted 20,000 members across South America and parts of the United States, establishing connections in Denver and Colorado, including relationships with conservative Catholic media⁤ outlets.

Victims reportedly brought accusations against SCV founder Luis fernando Figari ​to the Archdiocese of Lima as early as 2011. Figari has consistently ‌maintained‍ his innocence. His lawyer stated in January‌ that Figari has not been convicted‌ in ⁤court regarding these accusations.

Osterling said that hearing the accounts of⁢ others helped him understand the unusual nature of his own experiences. He alleges that Figari filmed him and other ‍young converts in their underpants during a spiritual retreat in the middle of the night.

“in my case, it was not a sexual assault,” Osterling said. He now‍ believes these actions where part of a grooming​ process.

another alleged victim told news outlets that Figari raped him at least three times in the 1970s, when he was 17 years old. The victim recalled Figari saying it was “the only way to see his aura correctly.”

despite numerous⁢ Peruvians alleging harassment by Figari and other SCV leaders, the issue remains sensitive in Peru, and few have publicly shared details of their complaints.

Prevost,who served as⁢ a ‍missionary ⁣in Peru in the 1980s and 1990s,likely encountered these ‍stories during his tenure as bishop of Chiclayo starting in‌ 2014,notably after the publication of Ugaz and salinas’ book.

Ugaz and‍ Salinas also implicated José ‌Antonio Eguren, archbishop of Piura, where prevost previously worked, in protecting the SCV despite awareness of the alleged abuses. Eguren denied the allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit, which he later withdrew.

Ugaz,who has faced legal challenges and death threats⁣ related to her reporting on ⁢the SCV ‌case,said ⁤she​ received a message of solidarity from Prevost and two other bishops during this period.

In 2017, an⁢ internal investigation ‍commissioned by the SCV‌ revealed disturbing accusations.