Santiago, Chile, Sep 17, 2018 / 16:01 pm
Pope Francis has decreed, without recourse to appeal, the dismissal from the clerical state of Cristián Precht Bañados, who was found guilty of abuse of minors in 2012.
The Santiago archdiocese stated Sept. 15 that Cardinal Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctine of the Faith, had notified the archdiocese that day of the Sept. 12 laicization.
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith had found Precht guilty of abuse in 2012.
After Precht was found guilty, he was prohibited from "exercising priestly public ministry for a period of five years, leaving to the bishop the power to extend the indicated period for the time he considers appropriate," according to a December 2012 statement of the Archdiocese of Santiago.