Pope Francis removed
another two Chilean bishops over clerical sex abuse of children
on Friday as his clean-up of the Church there continued.
Francis removed the bishop of San Bartolomé de Chillan, Mscgr
Carlos Eduardo Pellegrin Barrera, and the bishop of San Felipe,
Msgr Cristian Enrique Contreras Molina.
Both have been involved in probes into sex abuse and
cover-ups.
Replacements will be announced in due course, the Vatican
said.
Meanwhile caretaker apostolic adminstrators have been named.
For the diocese of San Bartolomé de Chillan, the pope has
named Father Sergio Hernan Perez de Arce.
For that of San Felipe, he has named Father Ortiz de Lazcano
Piquer, judicial vicar of Santiago.
Mons. Pellegrin Barrera, 60, former rector of the College of
the Divine Word, was probed in 2011 after an anonymous email
believed to have been sent by a former student accused him of
sex abuse.
The email described alcohol-fuelled sex parties with students
"no older than 17".
It further spoke of two students who committed suicide after
possible abuse.
The email also described improper conduct of at least another
three priests with students and workers.
As for Msgr Contreras Molina, the other bishop removed
Friday, he is one of seven bishops who appear in the last census
of the national prosecutor for criminal action linked to
suspected sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.
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