The Pope dissolves the Sodalitium in installments: 15 expelled in one month

The investigation ordered by Pope Francis against the Sodalitium of Christian Life of Peru is advancing firmly: fifteen of its members have been expelled to date for “serious misconduct,” including the founder, Luis Fernando Figari and the brain of the finances of the society. group, the priest Jaime Baertl.

In the text published on Wednesday by the Apostolic Nunciature in Lima, the expulsion of the priest Jaime Baertl and the consecrated layman, Juan Carlos Len Alvarez, is reported and it is added that “to adopt such a decision, the seriousness of the sexual abuse committed by one of them has been considered. of the accused, as well as the personal responsibility of these two involved in numerous irregularities and crimes committed by companies linked to Sodalitium Christianae Vitae.

In this case they refer to the accusation of former Sodalite Martin Scheuch against Jaime Baertl, accusing him that at the age of 16 he forced him to undress and have sexual relations with a chair. Scheuch further indicates that this abuse was part of his training to become a member of the Sodalitium.

The document also refers to the business activity of the Sodalitium, pointing out that: “The social doctrine of the Church has never ceased to insist on the “noble task of the businessman” (EG 203) which, from respect for the various state legislations, “It promotes the common good from a just hierarchy of values ​​in fidelity to Christ and his Gospel.”

«On the other hand, some economic efforts and investments promoted by Reverend Baertl and Mr. Len within the Sodalitium of Christian Life, opportunely detected by the «Special Mission» with the help of the economic organizations of the Holy See, constitute sinful actions that betray the Gospel,” the text explains, while adding: “Furthermore, they are intolerable canonical illicit acts that, beyond the scandal that has arisen internationally, disfigure the evangelizing mission of the Church and severely undermine its credibility, also endangering the “healthy cooperation that regulates relations between the Church and the Peruvian State.”

Also the text of the expulsion of Baertl and Len points out that “Pope Francis together with the Bishops of Peru and those places where the Sodalitium of Christian Life is present, saddened by what happened, ask for forgiveness from the people of God and the of civil society as a whole.

The document indicates that “based on the principles of commutative justice (CatIgCat 2412) and with the aim of repairing the injustice committed with the private appropriation and use of what should be social assets of some of the companies linked to the Sodalicio ( CatIgCat 2409), they also announce that they have ordered strong measures to correct such reprehensible actions and prevent their repetition in the future.

“They urge this society of apostolic life to, without further delay, begin with a docile and filial spirit a discernment that leads to a path of truth, justice and reparation,” the text concludes.

Last Monday the 21st, Pope Francis met in the Vatican with Charles Scicluna and Jordi Bertomeu, who is investigating the serious accusations against Sodalicio regarding abuses against members of the organization and irregularities in its financial management. At the meeting, the Pope renewed his support for the special mission and that day in the afternoon, the expulsions were resumed; with the departure of the consecrated layman, José Ambrozic and the priest, Luis Ferrogiaro.

The business side of Sodalicio

The Sodalicio was founded in 1971 by the consecrated layman Luis Fernando Figari with the aim of fighting on the opposite shore in the Catholic Church to liberation theology, which opted for the preferential option for the poor, proposed by the late Peruvian theologian, Gustavo Gutierrez. Its rapid growth in the region and the support of John Paul II was decisive in obtaining papal permission in 1997.

Priest Jaime Baertl led the business side of Sodalicio since the mid-1990s using the Concordat, the treaty signed in 1980 between Peru and the Vatican that prevents Catholic Church organizations from paying taxes. It is for this reason that Baertl organized the business of cemeteries that were fictitiously donated to the bishoprics in order to use the Concordat and not pay taxes and that made them accumulate huge profits. El Sodalicio has 9 cemeteries in Peru, schools, a university, real estate and agro-export companies, among other businesses that caused them to accumulate a capital of one billion dollars by 2015.

That year the book “Half monks, half soldiers” was published about the abuses of the Sodalicio against its members and this fact caused the leaders of the Sodalicio to fear losing their assets and seek to take the money from their businesses out of the country through offshore companies like Providential. Inc and Santa Rosa Foundation, which are based in Denver, Colorado; the most important headquarters of the organization today. The economic activity of Sodalicio is being investigated in Peru by the Prosecutor’s Office and for that reason the Sodalite leaders were summoned to testify in the coming months in a case they are being followed for money laundering.

The concordat

The sociologist and theologian, José Luis Pérez Guadalupe, told ABC that “these last two expulsions have taken longer due to the complexity of the financial issue. That is to say, they took advantage of a clause in the concordat to do business that was not for the Church, but for their private property and not for the Sodalicio as an institution. “The Church has to safeguard the institutions and dialogue with governments, that is, the Concordat.”

«The first thing is to safeguard the Church, because in Peru, they can say we denounce the concordat and for that reason, they seek to protect the treaty signed between Peru and the Vatican. The question is why the same sanctions that apply to the Sodalitium to the Legionaries of Christ were not applied. In any case, what applies to the Sodalicio is a good example. As the saying goes, if you see your neighbor’s beard cut, put your own to soak,” concluded Pérez Guadalupe.

Since last April 2, sanctions began in the Sodalicio with the departure of José Antonio Eguren, as archbishop of Piura and Tumbes. The expulsion of the organization’s founder, Luis Fernando Figari, on August 14 followed.

On September 25, ten other members of the Sodalicio were expelled from the organization, including the aforementioned former Archbishop of Piura and Tumbes, José Antonio Eguren; the prorector of the San Pablo University and legal representative, Miguel Salazar Steiger; the former Superior General, Eduardo Regal; for serious offenses. The priests Daniel Cardó and Rafael Ismodes were also expelled; the consecrated laymen, Humberto del Castillo; Oscar Tokomura; Ricardo Treneman; Erwin Scheuch and the journalist, former director of Aciprensa, Alejandro Bermúdez. With the four expelled this week; Ambrozic, Ferrogiaro, Baertl and Len there are fifteen members outside the organization.