Chilean Priest Christian Precht Expelled From Priesthood by Pope Francis Amid Abuse Scandal

The Vatican has removed Cristian Precht from the priesthood, the most severe penalty available against a Catholic cleric. The decision, announced by the Archdiocese of Santiago, comes amid the sexual abuse scandal involving the Catholic Church in Chile. Precht had long been a prominent defender of human rights in the South American country.

Pope Francis ordered the “reduction to the secular state” of Precht, an action the archdiocese described as an unappealable order. The archdiocese quoted the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Louis F. Ladaria, as stating that the resignation of the clerical state was ordered “ex officio et pro bono Ecclesiae” and that Precht was dispensed from all obligations attached to his sacred ordination.

Precht had already been removed from his priestly duties in 2012, following allegations of sexual abuse of minors and adults that had come to light a year earlier. He served an initial five-year sentence, and in December 2017, after that period, new complaints against him prompted another investigation by the Vatican. The source does not specify the nature of the initial sentence.

Leaders of a group of victims of sexual abuse by members of the Catholic Church in Chile supported the decision. José Andrés Murillo, a spokesman for the victims, wrote on Twitter that the expulsion was “a bit of justice” for him, while stating that the abuses had caused at least one suicide and considerable suffering. He added that “when they believe us, there is justice,” a statement that reflects the victims’ view of the case rather than an established finding (Proverbs 18:17).

Precht’s public standing was built in part on the Catholic Church’s role after General Augusto Pinochet took power in Chile following the coup d’état of September 11, 1973. In 1976 the church created the Vicariate of Solidarity to provide legal, economic, technical and spiritual assistance to people persecuted by the military regime. Precht, who led the vicariate during the 1970s and 1980s, offered refuge and support to political persecuted people, a work that many associated with him for decades.

The Vicariate of Solidarity received several honors for its work, including the Prince of Asturias Award for Concord in 1986 and a recognition from the United Nations in 1978. Precht, born in 1940 and ordained a priest in 1967, held the vicariate post until March 1979, when he became vicar of the Oriente area of Santiago and pastoral secretary of the Archdiocese of the capital. In 2009 he was honored as a Hero of Peace for his work in the vicariate, at a time when he was serving as Vicar General of Pastoral of the Archdiocese of Santiago.

Precht’s reputation began to unravel in January 2011, when a senior Chilean church leader received a complaint alleging sexual abuse by Precht involving a young psychologist. According to the report, the young man had been under Precht’s guardianship. The psychologist died by suicide in the United States in 1991.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Spanish)