The Company of Jesus in Bolivia denied this Saturday that it is a “criminal organization” and He reiterated his “commitment” to ensuring justice for the victims of the alleged sexual abuse committed by members of that order. that are investigated in the highland country.
The order issued a statement when it is almost one year after the publication of a report in the media The countryfrom Spain, on the diary of the late Spanish priest Alfonso Pedrajaswhere he made reference to the alleged abuses he perpetrated on dozens of children when he was in charge of a school in the country, since 1971.
In the statement, the Jesuits recount the actions followed by the order since the publication about Pedrajas became known on April 30, 2023 and assured that since then “explained a clear line of transparency and collaboration with justice to clarify these facts and determine responsibilities“.
“We must be emphatic in rejecting accusations that the Society of Jesus is a ‘criminal organization’fancifully venturing forms, procedures and institutional actions that would show ‘systematic pedophilia and cover-up’ everywhere, as if it were a constitutive part of the religious order,” the company said.
Furthermore, he defended the “numerous social works, educational, parish, communicational, scientific and pastoral” that have benefited “hundreds of thousands of people” in Bolivia.
The order “categorically denied having an institutional responsibility in cases of abuse that some of its members have committed or allegedly covered up” and maintained that they are “personal responsibilities that each one must assume before justice.”
“Our priority is the victims and the healing of their wounds. “We have publicly apologized to them and (…) we have provided them with help to address their situation and we are collaborating with the ongoing investigations so that comprehensive justice is done to them,” he added.
CASES AND COMPLAINTS
The Jesuits recalled that the order formalized in May 2023 first a complaint to investigate the case of Pedrajas and then two others “considered credible by canonical investigations, but whose alleged perpetrators had already died: Alejandro Mestre and Luis María Roma“.
The case of Rome was made known by EFE in February 2019, due to a complaint from a former member of the Society of Jesus, who requested anonymity, and who based the accusations on explicit photographs in which he said he recognized the alleged aggressor of several minors between 6 and 12 years old.
According to the company, the Mestre case “is pending resolution“, that of Rome “has been extinguished due to the death of the accused and the investigations did not find more information to indicate any cover-up.”
“As for the Alfonso Pedrajas case, the Prosecutor’s Office has resolved to terminate it, while the alleged cover-up continues under investigation“he added.
DETAILS OF THE DILIGENCES
Late March, The Prosecutor’s Office charged two former Spanish provincials of the Society of Jesus in Bolivia for alleged “cover-up” who initially had to comply with house arrest, although the order explained in its statement that this measure was “revoked” as there was “no risk of escape.”
He also specified that its Sexual Abuse Prevention Center received 12 complaints since May 2023 and that “psychological therapy and legal assistance” was given to the complainants and assured that it has placed emphasis on the prevention “of sexual abuse, power and conscience” by updating its institutional protocols.
Following the Pedrajas case, The Bolivian Prosecutor’s Office began investigations in several departments of the country due to reports of pedophilia that mostly involve Catholic priests, while the Government promotes for the second time the approval of a law for the imprescriptibility of crimes against minors.
