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Pope Faces Turmoil in Chile Over Indigenous Group and Sex Abuse Pope Faces Turmoil in Chile Over Indigenous Group and Sex Abuse
(35 minutes later)
SANTIAGO, Chile — Firebombs exploded before dawn on Friday at three churches in Santiago, Chile’s capital, an act of violence aimed at Pope Francis, who is to begin a weeklong visit to Chile and Peru on Monday. The police defused two other explosive devices that failed to detonate outside other churches later in the day.SANTIAGO, Chile — Firebombs exploded before dawn on Friday at three churches in Santiago, Chile’s capital, an act of violence aimed at Pope Francis, who is to begin a weeklong visit to Chile and Peru on Monday. The police defused two other explosive devices that failed to detonate outside other churches later in the day.
No one was injured, and only minor physical damage was reported. President Michelle Bachelet appealed for calm, urging Chileans to welcome the first papal visit since John Paul II visited Chile in 1987. “I also want to invite you all to experience this visit in a climate of respect, solidarity and happiness,” Ms. Bachelet said in a statement.No one was injured, and only minor physical damage was reported. President Michelle Bachelet appealed for calm, urging Chileans to welcome the first papal visit since John Paul II visited Chile in 1987. “I also want to invite you all to experience this visit in a climate of respect, solidarity and happiness,” Ms. Bachelet said in a statement.
No organization immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks, but pamphlets left at the sites of the first three bombings alluded to several issues, including the plight of the Mapuche, an indigenous people who have been battling loggers and farmers in the impoverished region of Araucanía in southern Chile.No organization immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks, but pamphlets left at the sites of the first three bombings alluded to several issues, including the plight of the Mapuche, an indigenous people who have been battling loggers and farmers in the impoverished region of Araucanía in southern Chile.
Early on Wednesday, Pope Francis is to fly to Temuco, the capital of the Araucanía region, about 400 miles south of Santiago. The government has intensified security measures there, with more than 4,000 additional police officers and special forces troops, even though Francis is expected to stay only for a few hours.Early on Wednesday, Pope Francis is to fly to Temuco, the capital of the Araucanía region, about 400 miles south of Santiago. The government has intensified security measures there, with more than 4,000 additional police officers and special forces troops, even though Francis is expected to stay only for a few hours.
The pope will hold a religious service at the Temuco airport. Msgr. Héctor Vargas Bastidas, the bishop of Temuco, told the news agency ACI Prensa that the pope wanted to visit “existential borders, where there is pain, where there is suffering, where there are wounds, where there is poverty.”The pope will hold a religious service at the Temuco airport. Msgr. Héctor Vargas Bastidas, the bishop of Temuco, told the news agency ACI Prensa that the pope wanted to visit “existential borders, where there is pain, where there is suffering, where there are wounds, where there is poverty.”
But several militant indigenous groups see the Roman Catholic Church as being closely associated with the history of oppression, and they have staged arson attacks against churches in the region. In November, hooded activists set fire to a bus and scattered pamphlets after the pope’s visit to the region was announced.But several militant indigenous groups see the Roman Catholic Church as being closely associated with the history of oppression, and they have staged arson attacks against churches in the region. In November, hooded activists set fire to a bus and scattered pamphlets after the pope’s visit to the region was announced.
The pamphlets left outside the churches in Santiago on Friday were not entirely coherent. They referred to “dominion over our bodies,” and included the phrase “free, impure and savage bodies,” suggesting criticism of the church’s conservative social positions on sexuality and abortion.The pamphlets left outside the churches in Santiago on Friday were not entirely coherent. They referred to “dominion over our bodies,” and included the phrase “free, impure and savage bodies,” suggesting criticism of the church’s conservative social positions on sexuality and abortion.
They also called for freedom for “political prisoners all over the world,” and contained a threat against the pope.They also called for freedom for “political prisoners all over the world,” and contained a threat against the pope.
“We attack with the fire of combat, exploding your disgusting morals,” it said. “Pope Francis, the next bombs will be on your robe!”“We attack with the fire of combat, exploding your disgusting morals,” it said. “Pope Francis, the next bombs will be on your robe!”
After visiting the churches that were attacked, Archbishop Ricardo Ezzati of Santiago said, “We are deeply hurt by these events that contradict the spirit of peace that inspires the pope’s visit.”After visiting the churches that were attacked, Archbishop Ricardo Ezzati of Santiago said, “We are deeply hurt by these events that contradict the spirit of peace that inspires the pope’s visit.”
President Bachelet, who is scheduled to leave office in March, condemned the attacks. “In a democracy people can express themselves, as long as it is in a peaceful and adequate manner,” she said.President Bachelet, who is scheduled to leave office in March, condemned the attacks. “In a democracy people can express themselves, as long as it is in a peaceful and adequate manner,” she said.
Pope Francis is to arrive in Santiago on Monday night. On Tuesday he will celebrate Mass at a major public park and meet with Ms. Bachelet, government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and Chilean bishops. He will go to Temuco the following day and then visit the northern city of Iquique on Thursday morning before flying to Lima, Peru.Pope Francis is to arrive in Santiago on Monday night. On Tuesday he will celebrate Mass at a major public park and meet with Ms. Bachelet, government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and Chilean bishops. He will go to Temuco the following day and then visit the northern city of Iquique on Thursday morning before flying to Lima, Peru.
In addition to the Mapuche, another source of controversy around the visit is the issue of the complicity of Chilean bishops in the case of the Rev. Fernando Karadima, the former head of El Bosque parish in Santiago, who catered to the elite while abusing teenage boys. The Vatican found Father Karadima guilty of sexual abuse in 2011 and sentenced him to a life of penitence and prayer. The church sentence was the only punishment leveled against the abusive priest. Victims were unsuccessful in an effort to get compensation through civil litigation. But no actions have been taken against the tight circle of bishops whom he trained, and who victims say covered up his crimes.In addition to the Mapuche, another source of controversy around the visit is the issue of the complicity of Chilean bishops in the case of the Rev. Fernando Karadima, the former head of El Bosque parish in Santiago, who catered to the elite while abusing teenage boys. The Vatican found Father Karadima guilty of sexual abuse in 2011 and sentenced him to a life of penitence and prayer. The church sentence was the only punishment leveled against the abusive priest. Victims were unsuccessful in an effort to get compensation through civil litigation. But no actions have been taken against the tight circle of bishops whom he trained, and who victims say covered up his crimes.
In January 2015 Pope Francis appointed one of them, Juan Barros, as bishop of Osorno, 570 miles south of the capital, prompting protests by lay and religious groups that continue to this day.In January 2015 Pope Francis appointed one of them, Juan Barros, as bishop of Osorno, 570 miles south of the capital, prompting protests by lay and religious groups that continue to this day.
On Thursday, The Associated Press revealed a letter sent by Pope Francis to Chile’s Bishop’s Conference that same month after they expressed concern over the appointment. Francis told them that he had planned to offer a sabbatical to Bishop Barros and two other bishops with ties to Father Karadima in order to cool the heated environment over his controversial appointment. That move ultimately failed. On Thursday, The Associated Press revealed a letter sent by Pope Francis to the Chilean bishops’ conference that same month after they expressed concern over the appointment. Francis told them that he had planned to offer a sabbatical to Bishop Barros and two other bishops with ties to Father Karadima in order to cool the heated environment over his controversial appointment. That move ultimately failed.
Father Karadima’s victims criticized the pope for not making time to meet with them during his visit, as they requested months ago.Father Karadima’s victims criticized the pope for not making time to meet with them during his visit, as they requested months ago.
“There has been no evidence that Pope Francis has done anything to support his stated zero-tolerance policy on abuses,” said James Hamilton, one of Father Karadima’s victims. “We would have expected at least action against the bishops complicit with Karadima.” “There has been no evidence that Pope Francis has done anything to support his stated zero-tolerance policy on abuses,” said James Hamilton, one of Father Karadima’s victims.
This week the organization BishopAccountability.org published research showing that almost 80 members of the clergy in Chile have been accused of sexual abuse since 2000. More than half have been convicted in court or by the Vatican.This week the organization BishopAccountability.org published research showing that almost 80 members of the clergy in Chile have been accused of sexual abuse since 2000. More than half have been convicted in court or by the Vatican.
Francis arrives in the midst of legislative debate over a gender identity bill that had been scheduled for debate in the lower house of Congress on Tuesday. The president of the Chamber of Deputies, Fidel Espinoza of the Socialist Party, postponed the debate in deference to the church.Francis arrives in the midst of legislative debate over a gender identity bill that had been scheduled for debate in the lower house of Congress on Tuesday. The president of the Chamber of Deputies, Fidel Espinoza of the Socialist Party, postponed the debate in deference to the church.