Two Latin American prelates have had their resignation accepted by Pope Francis, including one accused of ignoring allegations of abuse by a priest.
Archbishop Antonio Carlos Altieri, 63, of Passo Fundo in the south of Brazil, has resigned following a Vatican-ordered investigation by Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes.
According to the Brazilian news website O Nacional, Altieri had alienated many priests for spending £120,000 on a renovation of his residence, the archdiocesan offices and the seminary. He also instituted a 10 per cent diocesan “assessment” on parish income and priests complained about him accepting seminarians who left other dioceses and religious orders.
Meanwhile Bishop Gonzalo Galvan Castillo, 64, of the Diocese of Autlan in western Mexico, stepped down last month following years of criticism that he had failed to investigate claims that one of his priests sexually abused an 11-year-old boy, according to Mexican media reports. Bishop Galvan reportedly transferred him to another parish and now the priest’s current whereabouts are unknown.
Just days after the bishop’s resignation, another priest from his diocese, Francisco Javier García Rodríguez, was taken into custody for abusing a young girl at her home in February this year.
Last month Pope Francis set up a tribunal in the Holy See to judge bishops who cover up abuse.
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