Pope Lets 3 Chilean Bishops Resign Over Sex-Abuse Scandal

Pope Francis on Monday accepted the resignation of three Chilean bishops amid a widening reckoning for the country’s sexual-abuse scandals. Many members of Chile’s Catholic clergy stand accused of ignoring and covering up two decades of abuse by ex-priest Fernando Karadima, who was convicted of child molestation in cases from the 1980s and ’90s. After a series of Vatican meetings last month, the entire 34-bishop Chilean delegation tendered its resignation to Francis. One of the departing bishops is Juan Barros, who the pontiff had previously defended over accusations that he had covered up Karadima’s conduct. Since the scandal came to light, Francis has apologized for the church’s inaction and met with two groups of Chilean victims at the Vatican. Since 2000, according to The Telegraph, “about 80 Roman Catholic priests have been reported to authorities in Chile for alleged sexual abuse.”