Vatican Convicts Argentine Priest Carlos Miguel Buela of Abuse

The Vatican has formally declared Argentine priest Carlos Miguel Buela guilty of sexual abuse, concluding a two-instance ecclesiastical process that established his responsibility for acts committed with violence against several persons. Buela, who died in Genoa, Italy, in 2023, was the founder of the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) and the Servants of the Lord and of the Virgin of Matará (SSVM) in San Rafael, Mendoza. The decision definitively establishes his guilt for multiple crimes under canon 1395 of the Code of Canon Law, which addresses offenses against sexual morality.

The Special Criminal Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal reached a standard of “moral certainty” regarding Buela’s actions. The Vatican News reported that the resolution marks the culmination of a lengthy legal review within the Church. The determination was communicated through a document signed by Simona Brambilla, prefect of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, along with Pontifical Delegates José Antonio Satué Huerto, Bishop of Teruel and Albarracín, and Clara Ejarte.

These delegates were appointed in January 2025 to oversee the male and female branches of the congregation founded by Buela in Argentina during the 1980s. The official communication of the verdict was delivered to the provincial superiors of both institutes during a meeting in Rome on September 14, which also included authorities from the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life. This confirmation of responsibility arrived three years after the priest’s death and follows years of denunciations against him.

According to the Vatican, Buela had been accused of sexual abuse by approximately 20 seminarians since the 2000s. In December 2016, the Church initially admitted the veracity of the complaints, noting that while there were no cases of child abuse attributable to him, there were complaints regarding sexual behavior affecting religious and seminarians within the Institute. The Holy See determined, after ensuring Buela’s right to defend himself, that the complaints were true and that he was responsible for improper behaviors with adults.

One complainant questioned the initial 2016 conclusion, arguing that more than a dozen cases involved adults in vulnerable situations due to their status as subordinates or those under Buela’s spiritual direction. The ecclesiastical authorities had analyzed these accusations for years before reaching the final verdict. The process underscores the Church’s effort to address historical misconduct within its institutions, distinguishing between the legal finding of guilt and the broader context of institutional leadership.

The outcome reflects a commitment to accountability and justice, aligning with the biblical call to seek truth and mercy in the face of wrongdoing. As Micah 6:8 urges the practice of justice and the walking humbly with God, the resolution serves as a reminder that leaders are held to high standards of integrity and care for those under their guidance. The case highlights the importance of protecting victims and ensuring that those in positions of spiritual authority are subject to rigorous ethical and legal scrutiny.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Spanish)