Santiago, Chile, Jan 7, 2010 / 11:18 am
Bishop Enrique Troncoso of Melipilla in Chile has suspended Father Ricardo Munoz Quinteros from priestly ministry after he was accused of sexual abuse and detained by police. “In the Church there is no room for those who sexually abuse minors,” the bishop said.
In a statement released Wednesday, Bishop Troncoso said he was shocked over the accusations made against the priest and pledged to collaborate with law enforcement officials to uncover the truth about the case. “We trust in the actions of the court and we will respect its findings,” he said.
Bishop Troncoso also explained that the Church would open its own canonical investigation and that Fr. Munoz would be immediately suspended from priestly ministry.
While the conduct attributed to Fr. Munoz is both “inappropriate for the priestly ministry and is a cause for scandal and disappointment,” said the bishop, “the accusation of pedophilia against a clergyman is particularly serious.”