Right Wing Peruvian Sodality to be Dissolved

Jan 27, 2025 | 0 comments

The Peruvian organisation ‘Sodalitium Christianae Vitae’ (“sodality—or brotherhood—of Christian life”) has acknowledged to its members that it is soon to cease to function, on orders from the Vatican – following repeated allegations of abuse of vulnerable members.

This was announced at a gathering of members in Aperecida, Brazil, on Jan 20th, 2025.

Founded in 1971 in Lima, Peru, the society was recognised by St John Paul II ‘as of pontifical right’ in 1997 – but came under repeated criticism for the behaviour of some of its leading members – including its founder Luis Fernando Figari, accused of sexual and physical violence, even against minors.  Figari was dismissed in 2024 and soon after Pope Francis approved the expulsion of ten high-ranking members – including an archbishop.

The Catholic News Agency Crux reports that Pope Francis met on Friday Jan 24th with José Enrique Escardó, the first victim of the organisation to report publicly on what had happened to him.

“He listened and I liked that a lot. I didn’t find myself in front of an authority who was telling me what they were doing to be applauded, or what I should do, but he was silent and listening. His body language surprised me very much because at each thing that I would say, he would make it clear that he was disturbed, that he was disgusted, that he was sad,” Escardó reported.

As in Ireland, the Catholic Church in Peru has been seriously weakened by such revelations. Crux is also reporting that according to a Spanish newspaper, La Pais, a once-powerful Peruvian Cardinal, Juan Luis Cipriani, was removed by Pope Francis in 2019 following allegations of abuse.

For the report of the impending dissolution of the sodality, in La Croix International, click here.

For the Crux report of Pope Francis meeting with José Enrique Escardó click here.

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