Whereas defrocking technically stays an possibility, various measures might embrace eradicating him from the artwork neighborhood he based in Rome and isolating him in a monk-like lifetime of penance and prayer so he’s not a risk to girls, mentioned Rupnik’s superior, the Rev. Johan Verschueren.

“Naturally the very first thing for me to be vigilant about is to do every part to stop comparable issues from taking place sooner or later,” Verschueren mentioned, including that he nonetheless hoped that Rupnik would assume duty for his actions.

The Rupnik scandal exploded in December when Italian blogs and web sites reported that consecrated girls had complained for years about abuse solely to have their claims discredited or lined up by Rupnik’s superiors. The case has remained an issue for the Vatican and the Jesuits due to suspicions that the charismatic Slovene priest obtained preferential therapy by the Holy See, the place a Jesuit pope reigns and Jesuit clergymen assist run the intercourse abuse workplace.

Verschueren briefed AP and La Repubblica newspaper forward of the discharge Tuesday of conclusions of a brand new investigation into Rupnik opened in December, after the Jesuits reluctantly admitted Rupnik had been declared excommunicated in 2020 for having dedicated one of many gravest crimes in church legislation — utilizing the confessional to absolve a lady with whom he had engaged in sexual exercise — however had repented and had the sanction shortly eliminated.

The following yr, Rupnik was accused by 9 girls of getting sexually, psychologically and spiritually abused them within the Nineteen Nineties at a neighborhood he co-founded in Slovenia. Although the Jesuits really useful a church trial, the Vatican’s intercourse abuse workplace refused to waive the statute of limitations and declared the crimes too outdated to prosecute.

The end result underscored how the Catholic hierarchy routinely refuses to contemplate religious and sexual abuse of grownup girls as a criminal offense that should be punished, however slightly a mere lapse of priestly chastity that may be forgiven, with out contemplating the trauma it causes victims.

Amid the scandal, the Jesuits invited anybody with different claims in opposition to Rupnik to return ahead and 15 individuals did: 14 girls and one man, Verschueren informed AP and La Repubblica. The Jesuits’ investigative staff decided their claims, which date from 1985-2018, have been credible and confirmed a “sample” of psychological, sexual and religious abuse, and abuse of conscience.

Primarily based on the 15 new claims, Verschueren mentioned he reaffirmed earlier bans on listening to confessions or giving religious course, and on leaving the Rome space with out permission. However moreover, Rupnik will now be prohibited from exercising his creative exercise, Verschueren mentioned, suggesting that his interactions with individuals in creating his mosaics turned a supply of abusive relationships.

“I solely take measures when there are causes for threat,” he mentioned.

Rupnik hasn’t responded to the most recent allegations: He hasn’t responded to requests for interviews, declined to talk with the investigative staff and Verschueren mentioned his subsequent job can be to satisfy with Rupnik to listen to his facet, insisting that he be given the precise to defend himself.

Verschueren mentioned he would determine on definitive disciplinary measures primarily based on how Rupnik responds, expressing hope that he assumes duty for his actions and agrees to endure psychological remedy.

“I imagine, I hope we will nonetheless arrive at a strategy of discovering the reality,” he mentioned. “Solely once we enter into the reality with all these concerned can we actually resolve the issue — the issue of the victims and getting into right into a strategy of reparation with them, but additionally for him.”

He acknowledged there are some who need Rupnik faraway from the priesthood, given the serial nature of his abuse and greater than two dozen victims already recognized. However Verschueren famous that kicking Rupnik out of the Jesuits would take away all controls on him, growing possibilities that he might proceed to be a risk.

The brand new accusations don’t concern sacramental abuse that might justify forwarding the case to the Vatican’s intercourse abuse workplace, often known as the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Religion. Verschueren mentioned he was “relieved” that the Dicastery wouldn’t be concerned, given its earlier choice to not waive the statute of limitations on the 2021 case.

In a Jan. 24 interview with AP, Pope Francis acknowledged he at all times waives the statute of limitations for abuse of kids circumstances, however not these involving adults. In that very same interview, Francis denied he had something to do with the Rupnik case apart from to intervene on a procedural notice.

Along with the abuse investigation, a theologian was introduced in to check Rupnik’s writings and located some doubtlessly “transgressive” issues with conferences Rupnik gave on sexuality within the Nineteen Eighties and Nineteen Nineties, Verschueren mentioned.

“The theologian I consulted didn’t wish to name it a heresy, however mentioned it gave a gap to legitimize sure actions that aren’t right,” he mentioned.

He denied Rupnik’s artwork was irrevocably tainted, likening it to authors who write nice books however are themselves flawed.

“I requested myself, Johan, is it exhausting to hope earlier than these mosaics? My response isn’t any,” he mentioned of Rupnik’s chapel mosaics on the Jesuit headquarters. “In a method, I’ve been capable of separate the artwork from the artist.”