Bishop Carlos María Domínguez, The Bishop of San Rafael, Argentina, has resigned just two years into his role amid a cloud of serious allegations. Local media indicates that he he suspected of abusing three young adults. This is one of several recent resignations in the Argentine catholic church. Domínguez released a statement where he addressed the controversy.
“For personal reasons, I have presented my resignation from the pastoral government as diocesan Bishop of San Rafael to the Holy Father Francisco, whom I thank for his trust when he appointed me bishop of this Diocese,’ the translated press release began. “I sense the perplexity that this news causes in all of you. But believe me, this decision causes me deep pain. ”
“For three years – one as Apostolic Administrator and two as diocesan Bishop – I gave myself with all my heart to this Church of San Rafael,” the embattled bishop added. “I want to thank you infinitely for the incessant displays of affection and for always feeling accompanied by everyone’s prayer. I want to apologize for what I did wrong, for what I did not do and for what I did not know how to do.”
“I carry each and every one of you in my heart: my brother priests; to the seminarians; to the religious, religious and consecrated; to the laity and to so many that God put in my episcopal way. Pray a lot for me that right now I really need it. I pray and will always pray for you and for this Diocese that I love,” he concluded. “I entrust them to our Mother of Lourdes and to the angelic protection of San Rafael. God bless you.”
However, local sources indicate that there is more to the story. According to Pilar, a catholic website, the resignation was due to “a case of sexual abuse, namely, sexual acts without the free and valid consent of the victim, involving three young male adults. Also, one of the conducts of Bishop Domínguez likely led to latae sententiae excommunication.”
Bishop Domínguez is not the only high-ranking catholic to find himself in hot water. Earlier this eyar, Italian prosecutors moved to indict Bishop Corrado Melis and Antonio “Tonino” Becciu for embezzlement. While Becciu is not a catholic official, his brother, a cardinal, was convicted of financial crimes last year. The suspects allegedly siphoned off money from an Italian program that allows taxpayers to donate a portion of their income tax return to religious organizations. The pair will be tried in April along with several other defendants.
The scandal concerns Italy’s “8 per mille” fund. This elective program allows taxpayers to allocate .8% of their income tax return to a church or charity group. Prosecutors allege the scam cost the government 2 million euros. In response to the charges, Bishop Melis said this was “one of the most painful and delicate pages in the history of our diocesan Church.”
“These are days of trial, of questions, of pain for those who love this community and have dedicated their lives to it,” he wrote in an open letter. “As with Jesus, my prayer does not doubt God’s love,” he added. “On that night of Gethsemane, indeed, in the great solitude of that night, the only certain thing about Jesus is the love of the Father: ‘Father, if this cup cannot pass from me without my drinking, your will be done.’”
Commentators were quick to pounce on the Bishop for his dramatics.” I would just like to take a moment to recognize that Bishop Melis just compared this situation [being indicted of a blatant financial crime] to our Lord and Savior’s Passion,” one reader said. Another humorously reacted, ” I blinked out loud at that one. It seems like a poor time to be adding more millstones.”