The dioceses of Beja and Setúbal did not respond to the independent commission, which wanted to hear from the respective bishops about the sexual abuse. Orders were placed on February 25 and March 17 last year.
D. Joao Marcos, Bishop of Beja, admitted this Thursday that he forgot to respond to a request for a personal interview, but guaranteed that he sent files from the archives of the diocese in writing to the commission. The prelate confessed that he was ashamed that he forgot to respond to the request for an interview, citing a health problem that affected his memory. He also stated that he considered the written response to be “valid”.
This Thursday, the Diocese of Setúbal (left without a titular bishop since the departure of D. José Ornelas for Leiria Fatima) rejected the fact that there was a refusal on their part, attributing the matter to the moment of the departure of the bishop. “There was a communication breakdown,” Father José Lobato says. The current administrator of the diocese was not contacted to speak with the commission, but was allowed access to the archives.
Author: Rogerio Chambel
Source: CM Jornal
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