Archdiocese of Denver responds to expulsion of 10 Sodality of Christian Life members

ACI Prensa Staff, September 28, 2024 / 21:37

The Peruvian Episcopal Conference announced that on September 25, Pope Francis ordered the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (Sodality of Christian Life) to expel 10 of its members. The measure raised eyebrows in the Archdiocese of Denver, which has pastoral ties to several of the people who were disciplined.

The bishops of Peru published on their website a press release from the Apostolic Nunciature of this country, stating that the Pope “after assessing the defense corresponding to the allegations that emerged during the special mission” – sent to Lima in July 2023 – approved the expulsion of 10 members of the organization.

The expelled members include former Superior General of the Sodality, Eduardo Antonio Regal Villa; retired Archbishop of Piura, José Antonio Eguren Anselmi; and former regional superiors: Fr. Rafael Alberto Ismodes Cascón and Fr. Erwin Augusto Scheuch Pool; former formators: Humberto Carlos Del Castillo Drago, Oscar Adolfo Tokomura and Father Daniel Alfonso Cardó Soria.

Additional former incorporation members who were expelled were Ricardo Adolfo Trenemann Young and Miguel Arturo Salazar Steiger; and journalist Alejandro Bermúdez Rosell, who until December 2022 served as director of ACI Prensa and ACI Group, news agencies belonging to EWTN News since 2014.

The Nunciature’s statement said that “in adopting this disciplinary decision, account was taken of the scandal caused by the number and seriousness of the abuses reported by the victims, which is particularly contrary to the balanced and liberating experience of the evangelical councils in the context of the ecclesial apostolate.”

The text mentions various types of abuse, including physical and spiritual abuse, abuse of conscience and abuse of power in the management of church property and in the exercise of the journalistic apostolate. Details of the charges against any of the expelled members are not included.

The press release further indicated that “Pope Francis, together with the bishops of Peru and the places where the Sodality of Christian Life is present, saddened by what has happened, ask the victims for forgiveness and unite themselves with their suffering. Likewise, they implore the Society of Apostolic Life to initiate the path of justice and reparation.”

A surprise in the Archdiocese of Denver

In a separate one statementThe Archdiocese of Denver, home to the Sodality community, expressed shock at the news of the expulsions, which it said were “based on accusations that occurred decades ago in South America.”

“While the Archdiocese is actively working to understand the full scope of the Vatican’s investigation, we cannot comment on specifics. This news is inconsistent with our decades of experience with men who have served in the Archdiocese of Denver,” he added in a statement.

In the text, the Archdiocese indicated that “among those named here who live here, Father Daniel Cardó nobly and faithfully served Colorado for 17 years. During his stay here, Fr. Cardó has not faced any disciplinary action against him. He is loved by his parishioners and respected in the community.”

“The once dying parish community of Holy Name in Sheridan now thrives because of his dedication to the Lord and those he serves. The once declining parish community of Holy Name in Sheridan now thrives because of its commitment to the Lord and those it serves,” the priest noted in a statement.

Moreover, the archdiocese, under the leadership of Archbishop Samuel Aquila, points out that “Eduardo Regal and Alejandro Bermúdez have similarly served faithfully and distinguishedly in the Archdiocese of Denver, and the findings against them are, to say the least, deeply disappointing.”

The Sodality case

The Sodality of Christian Life (SCV, its Latin acronym) was founded in Peru in 1971 by Luis Fernando Figari, who was accused of sexual abuse and expelled from the organization by the Pope on August 14, 2024, in connection with the report of the special mission led by Archbishop Scicluna and Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu.

Since 2015, the Sodality has faced public accusations of sexual harassment and abuse of power following the publication of the book Half monks, half soldiers by Peruvian journalists Pedro Salinas and Paola Ugaz.

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In May 2016, the Vatican appointed Cardinal Joseph Tobin, then Archbishop of Indianapolis, as an SCV delegate. Among other things, he was supposed to help its general authorities in making decisions “regarding accusations made against the founder.”

In February 2017, SCV presented its own report on cases of abuse committed within the institution, following an investigation by international experts who identified as the alleged aggressors Germán Doig (vicar general who died in 2001) and former members Virgilio Levaggi and Jeffrey Daniels.

On January 10, 2018, the Holy See appointed Monsignor Noel Londoño, Bishop of Jericó (Colombia) as Apostolic Commissioner and Fray Guillermo Rodríguez as Deputy Commissioner. The two examined the status of the SCV and presented Pope Francis with a set of reforms, which were approved by the Pope on December 13, 2018.

In January 2019, this was the case reported that the Congregation – now Dicastery – for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life has elected Sodality member José David Correa as the new superior general for six years.

ON October 30, 2021Correa met with Pope Francis to inform the Holy Father about the changes being implemented for the “comprehensive renewal” of the community.

During that meeting, Correa provided the Pope with documentation on “the process of listening, caring and redressing victims,” ​​along with actions taken to prevent abuses, and information on “the situation of current legal processes taking place in Peru.”

On December 1, 2023, Pope Francis readmitted José David Correa as part of the Assembly of the Union of Superiors General held in Rome.

The Sodality then indicated that its superior general had provided the Pope with updated information on the reality of the association of apostolic life, “touching on various aspects related to the life and apostolic mission of our community.”

On August 14, 2024, after learning of Figari’s expulsion – at the request of the SCV from the Vatican in 2019 – the Society of Apostolic Life published statement in which she reiterated her commitment to renewal, asking for forgiveness and solidarity with the victims.

This story was published for the first time by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.