Hospitalized, Monsignor Charles J. Scicluna of the special College of Appeal — in the case of sexual abuse on minors by clergymen –, within the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, thanked on his Twitter page “all those who generously expressed their support and the offer of their prayers” for his recovery.
Sent by Pope Francis to investigate the case of Monsignor Juan de la Cruz Barros Madrid, Bishop of Osorno, in Chile, Monsignor Scicluna was urgently hospitalized on the evening of February 20, 2018, on the first day of his mission in the country, and underwent an operation of the gallbladder at the San Carlos de Apoquindo Hospital of the Catholic University of Santiago.
“It was a very small invasive surgical operation,” said Dr Rodrigo Miguieles Coconut, the surgeon who carried out the operation, reported Il Sismografo.””The prognosis is positive,” he added.
Monsignor Scicluna must stay in the Clinic until Friday or Saturday, according to Dr Rioseco, the Hospital’s Director. He also noted that he told the patient and his entourage that an inter-continental air trip in the next days isn’t advisable. Therefore, it’s almost certain that the Pope’s envoy will not return to Italy next Saturday, as initially foreseen.
Meanwhile, the investigation of Monsignor Barros continues: the meetings with victims are being followed at present by Father Jordi Bertomeu, who aids Monsignor Scicluna, reported Il Corriere della Sera. Previously, Monsignor Scicluna and Father Bertomeu had heard the testimony of Juan Carlos Cruz, on Fernando Karadima’s victims. The victims accuse Bishop Juan Barros of having been a witness of the priest’s violence and of having covered it up. After speaking with Monsignor Scicluna, Cruz said: “For the first time since 2009, I had the feeling of being heard.”
Monsignor Scicluna met two other victims of Karadima on Tuesday, James Hamilton and Jose Andres Murillo.
The investigation will also include the hearing of the testimonies of the Association of “the faithful of Osorno,” very involved in casting light on the Barros affair.
Jaime Coiro, spokesman of the Church of Chile, stressed that Monsignor Scicluna’s mission “concerns the situation of Monsignor Barros” and not “all the cases of sexual abuse of the Chilean Church,” while accusations are being brought against other Prelates.
