Rome, Italy, Jun 22, 2009 / 12:12 pm
Various Catholic organizations have expressed their solidarity with Father Kizito Sesana, a Combonian missionary from Italy who has been unjustly accused of sexually abusing children in Kenya, where he has served children and young people for over 20 years.
According to the magazine Mondo e Missione, published by the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, Father Sesana has been the target of “a defamation campaign begun by the privately owned Kenya Television Network, which has accused the priest of abusing children.”
The Superior General of the Combonians, Father Teresino Serra, issued a statement expressing support for Father Sesana, recalling his “great devotion to the missions. The leadership expresses his closeness to Father Sesana in this time of trial.”
Former students of the Kivuli Centre, where Father Sesana works, said, “Many of us have gone through the rehabilitation program at Kivuli and we wish to clearly state that the accusations are baseless and extremely malicious.”