Pope defrocks priest at centre of Chilean sexual abuse scandal: Vatican

Chilean priest Fernando Karadima is seen inside the Supreme Court building in Santiago, Chile. (REUTERS File Photo)
VATICAN CITY, September 28 (Reuters): Pope Francis has defrocked Father Fernando Karadima, the 88-year-old priest at the centre of the vast sexual abuse scandal in Chile, the Vatican said on Friday.   Karadima was found guilty in a Vatican investigation in 2011 of abusing teenage boys over many years. He was ordered to live a life of prayer and penitence, but he was not defrocked.   Seven Chilean bishops have resigned since June following an investigation into an alleged cover-up of Karadima's actions.   Karadima, who has always denied wrongdoing, escaped civilian justice because of the statute of limitations in the country.   A Vatican statement in Spanish called the decision "exceptional" and said the pope had done it "for the good of the Church".   It said Francis signed a decree on the defrocking, technically known as being "reduced to the lay state," on Thursday, and that Karadima, who is believed to be living in a home for the elderly in the Chilean capital Santiago, was notified on Friday.
     



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