Vatican Denies Ruling Made in Abuse Trial of Artist Priest Marko Rupnik
Overview of the Marko Rupnik Abuse Case
VATICAN CITY, July 22 (Reuters) - The Vatican on Wednesday denied that a ruling had been made in a canonical trial against prominent Slovenian priest Marko Ivan Rupnik, who has been accused by more than 20 women, mostly former nuns, of sexual and psychological abuse.
The case has come to be seen as a test of the Vatican's commitment to accountability for clergy abuse.
Background and Allegations
Rupnik, a religious artist whose mosaics adorn about 200 churches and chapels around the world, including in the Vatican, was expelled from the Jesuit order in 2023 after it found the accusations against him to be "very highly" credible.
Media Reports and Legal Proceedings
Earlier this week, Catholic blog Messa in Latino reported that Rupnik had been acquitted by Vatican judges, while a lawyer for some of his alleged victims, Laura Sgro, complained about the secrecy of the internal church trial.
Vatican's Official Response
"The evaluation of the case is still ongoing, and the panel is examining documentation from the dioceses involved, the Jesuits, interested parties, and the press", the Vatican press office said.
"During the trial, as with any judicial proceeding, no information regarding ongoing activity can be shared in any way, out of respect for the trial itself and to avoid harming anyone involved," it added.
Statements from the Accused and Alleged Victims
Rupnik, 71, has not commented on the allegations.
In 2024, former nun Gloria Branciani said at a press conference that Rupnik had forced her to have three-way sex with him and another nun in Slovenia and had justified it as a devotion to the Holy Trinity. Later, in Rome, he forced her to visit pornographic movie theatres with him, she said.
Reporting and Editorial Information
(Reporting by Alvise Armellini, editing by Hugh Lawson)
