Nine members of an Italian
religious community near Prato suppressed by the Vatican in
December have been placed under investigation on suspicion of
sexually abusing minors, Tuscan daily La Nazione reported
Wednesday.
Five priests, a friar and three other religious have been
placed under investigation, the daily said.
They belong to the ex-community Disciples of the
Annunciation.
It was dissolved after a canonical visit by Vatican officials
in December.
The alleged victims are two brothers, who were minors at the
time the alleged offences occurred.
They had been placed with the community by their parents.
The reported the abuse to police years after it allegedly
happened, La Nazione said.
The bishop of Prato, Giovanni Nerbini, also reported the case
to police in December.
"Our first duty is to the truth," Nerbini said.
The Vatican suppressed the community for "serious
shortcomings" regarding the religious life.
Among those probed is Father Giglio Gilioli, the founder of
the former community.
Prato prosecutors are investigating on suspicion of sexual
violence on minors and group sexual violence, judicial sources
said.
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