by Staff writer
Pope Francis has on Saturday expelled a Chilean priest being investigated for accusations of child sexual abuse.
The expulsion is coming at a time when the Roman Catholic Church is embroiled in growing scandals of sexual abuse claims all over the world.
The Archdiocese of Santiago said the Pope had decided to dismiss Reverend Cristian Precht following an accusation that he was molesting children.
Before his dismissal, the well-known Chilean religious leader has since denied the charges of sexual abuse against him.
In a February 2013 statement, Precht denied “ever forcing anyone’s will, be it an adult or a minor, woman or man.”
He also denied the allegations earlier this year in a letter to the director of the Chilean newspaper La Tercera.
“I absolutely deny participating, in any way, in the acts which I’m slanderously being accused of,” the newspaper quoted him as saying.
“I will defend my personal and clerical honor in every way I can and any time it’s violated.”
Precht was extremely popular in Chile and known for being a fierce defender of human rights during the Chilean dictatorship.
The Catholic Church worldwide is currently reeling from crises involving sexual abuse of minors, which has deeply damaged the reputation of the Church not just in Chile, but also in the United States, Australia, Ireland, and all over the world.
