Global Church Crime News 07/16/2023
Jul 15, 2023(July 13) Clerical Sex Abuses Crisis: Spanish Priests Hit With Sanctions | SPAIN
The Diocese of Mallorca in Spain has sentenced Father Julià Cifre Vandrell to three years of not celebrating Mass “in any place other than at his home” and to leading “a secluded life of retirement, prayer, and penance.”
The priest was also ordered to “write a letter to the victim apologizing for all the pain he has caused” and refrain for life “from coming into contact with the victim or her relatives.”
The penalty was imposed “once the criminal administrative canonical procedure against the priest was completed,” according to a statement from the diocese.
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(July 13) Robbers Storm Two Roman Catholic Church Buildings, Snatch Cash, Property | ZIMBABWE
Armed robbers pounced on two separate Roman Catholic Church premises in Bulawayo same night on Thursday and made off with over US$1,300 cash and some property after holding priests hostage during the attack.
The machete wielding suspects attacked the Roman Catholic Holy Trinity Parish and snatched US$1,200 and some cash in South African rands.
They also attacked the House of Liberty Christian Church in Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park suburb and left with some valuable property.
Narrating the ordeal, Gilbert Moyo, the resident Priest at Holy Trinity Parish, said the suspects forced their way into their residence and handcuffed them.
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(July 13) Ondo Pastor Jailed For Stealing | NIGERIA
Presiding pastor of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Ona Iwa-Mimo, Iwaro Oka Akoko in Ondo State, Friday Okeneji, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment by an Akure Magistrate’s Court for stealing chemicals worth N130,000.
Okeneji was said to have committed the offence on July 2, at Iwaro Oka Akoko.
He pleaded guilty to the two count charges preferred against him.
Okeneji said he committed the offence for survival, adding that he had to pay N150,000 for his mother’s burial slated for August.
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(July 12) The Harassment Of Italian Evangelical Churches | ITALY
The evangelical churches in the Mediterranean country desperately needs the freedom of religion promised in the Italian constitution. But evangelical Christians in Italy face various forms of persistent harassment, and something needs to change.
Harassment at the Breccia di Roma church
In 2016, Pastor Leonardo De Chirico's church, Breccia di Roma, wanted to purchase an old storefront in the historic district of Rome and convert it to be the meeting place for the church.
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