Prato, Italy, Feb 3, 2020 / 14:46 pm
Civil authorities in Tuscany have issued warrants against nine people accused of sexual abuse; they are the founder and former members of a Church group suppressed by the Vatican in December.
The warrants were issued after the Bishop of Prato, where the former group was located, reported an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor to the police.
Bishop Giovanni Nerbini reported the allegations after being informed of the Dec. 16 suppression of the Disciples of the Annunciation by the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
An allegation was first brought to the attention of the diocese in June 2019. Nerbini in December alerted the local police, who issued arrest warrants Jan. 29 for nine members of the group, five of whom are priests, including the founder, Fr. Giglio Gilioli, 73.