New sexual scandal within the Church. The Investigating Court number 3 of Teruel investigates a priest from the Diocese of Teruel and Albarracín as the alleged perpetrator of a crime of sexual assault after a complaint from a parishioner.
The religious, already removed from his pastoral responsibilities, gave a statement in court this Thursday before being released provisionally, although with the imposition of precautionary measures. These include the prohibition to communicate and approach less than 200 meters from the victim and the obligation to appear in court on the 1st and 15th of each month while the proceedings continue.
Apparently, the denounced events took place a few months ago in the capital of Teruel between the priest, in his 60s, and the complainant, who is around 30. During the hearing, the magistrate stated that it was a relationship “that exceeded the mere friendship between a priest and a lady catechist”, given that, from the months of January to June 2023, there was a “clear and unequivocal relationship of affectivity of character and sexual content”.
In addition, he adds that it was a “continuous and prolonged relationship” that went beyond being a mere casual and fortuitous meeting, with possible indications, the instructor stressed, of the use of “certain doses of violence” and an abuse of physical superiority. or psychic derived from the psychological vulnerability of the victim.
In the statements given this morning in the aforementioned court, the judge also warned of the existence of contradictions, since while the victim denied consent, the priest affirmed that there was, an issue on which the judicial investigation is mainly focused.
In addition to the appearances that took place this Thursday, the judge has requested a full assessment of the victim from the Institute of Legal Medicine of Aragon (IMLA), and has summoned a psychologist and the Bishop of Teruel, José Antonio Satué, to testify.
Through a statement, the Diocese reported this Thursday that at the beginning of June, the aforementioned bishop learned of the events denounced through the woman herself, who is part of and collaborates in one of the parishes of the diocese. “In addition to welcoming her and listening to her with the utmost respect and credibility, he made himself available to her, offering her any help she might need,” he says.
After several meetings of Satué with the woman on the one hand and with the priest on the other, “he decided to remove him from his pastoral responsibilities, a decision that has already been made effective,” adds the press release.
At the proposal of the bishop, the denounced priest has begun a process of “psychological and spiritual accompaniment in a center specialized in helping priests.” In addition, the Diocese expressed its confidence that the judicial process underway will serve to determine the responsibility of the priest, and expressed its “absolute availability” to collaborate with the authorities.
