An Italian priest accused of sexually abusing
minors and supplying them with illegal drugs has admitted to prison
doctors that he is HIV-positive, Italian media reported Saturday.
Father Riccardo Seppia was arrested last week.
He is accused of
abusing a 16-year-old boy and giving him cocaine.
Investigators have
since said Seppia, who regularly frequented discotheques, saunas and
gyms, would frequently ask his drug dealers to provide him with young
boys.
According to dailies La Repubblica and Corriere della
Sera, Seppia later confirmed a prosecutor's report on his medical
condition and has since asked staff at the Marassi prison in Genoa to
be transferred to another prison because of the constant abuse he has
been receiving from other prisoners.
The Vatican, which has
already suspended Seppia from all priestly duties, has recently urged
parishes to report sex crime suspects to civil authorities.
The Catholic Church has in the past been accused of not reacting
strongly enough to allegations of sexual abuse by priests in Italy and
elsewhere.