Vatican Confirms Guilt of Argentine Priest Carlos Miguel Buela for Abuses

The Vatican has officially confirmed the guilt of Argentine priest Carlos Miguel Buela for abuses committed against several individuals, marking the conclusion of a lengthy ecclesiastical legal process. Buela, who founded the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) and the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará (SSVM), died in Genoa, Italy, in 2023, three years after the final determination of his responsibility.

The decision was reached after both the Special Criminal Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal established what Vatican News described as “moral certainty” regarding his responsibility. The courts determined that Buela was responsible for acts constituting a crime against the sixth warrant, committed with violence against multiple persons. This resolution definitively established his liability for multiple crimes under canon 1395 of the Code of Canon Law, which addresses offenses against sexual morality.

According to Vatican reporting, Buela had been charged with sexual abuse by nearly 20 seminarians since the 2000s. The case had been under investigation for years following various complaints. The final conclusions of the courts were officially communicated by Pontifical Delegates to the provincial superiors of both institutes during a meeting in Rome on September 14, attended by authorities from the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

The official document confirming the guilt was 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 Echarte. These two delegates were appointed in January 2025 to oversee the male and female branches of the congregations founded by Buela in Argentina during the 1980s.

Prior to this final confirmation, the Church had already acknowledged the allegations in December 2016. At that time, the Holy See reported that it had determined the truthfulness of the allegations and the priest’s responsibility for improper behavior with adults. The Vatican clarified that no child abuse attributable to Buela had been found, but noted that there were allegations of sexual behavior affecting religious and seminarians within the institute.

The case highlights the importance of institutional accountability and the protection of vulnerable individuals within religious communities. As the Church addresses these serious matters, the pursuit of truth and justice aligns with the call for mercy and accountability found in Micah 6:8, where leaders are urged to act with integrity and defend the rights of others.

The resolution serves as a formal closure to a two-instance ecclesiastical process that extended over several years. By establishing a definitive record of responsibility, the Vatican aims to uphold the dignity of the victims and ensure that the institutions founded by Buela can move forward with transparency and care for their members.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Spanish)